Holiday shopping online is convenient—but also risky. Scammers, counterfeit products, fake discounts, and misleading return policies increase significantly from November through January. No matter where you shop—major retailers, discount marketplaces, or independent online stores—shoppers need to stay alert.
Here are the top things buyers should be aware of this holiday season.
1. Fake or Misleading Sellers
Scammers often create temporary online stores during the holidays. They collect payments and disappear before fulfilling orders.
How to protect yourself:
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Check seller ratings and reviews across all platforms.
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Avoid sellers with little or no history.
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Verify the store website (look for “https” and correct spelling).
2. Counterfeit or Low-Quality Products
High-demand items like electronics, toys, perfumes, jewelry, tools, and fashion items are commonly counterfeited.
How to avoid fakes:
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Compare product descriptions to the brand’s official website.
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Review customer photos.
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Be cautious of prices that seem too good to be true.
3. Manipulated or Fake Reviews
Fake reviews are common on many platforms—not just Amazon. Some sellers post paid reviews to boost credibility.
Warning signs:
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Many reviews posted within a short window
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Repetitive wording
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Reviews that mention different items
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All 5-star ratings with few details
Price and review analysis tools like Fakespot and ReviewMeta can help.
4. “Deals” That Aren’t Real Discounts
Some online sellers raise prices before holiday sales, then advertise a fake discount.
How to check if a deal is real:
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Compare prices across multiple websites.
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Use price-tracking tools like CamelCamelCamel, Keepa, or Google Shopping.
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Look for historical pricing, not just the “sale price” displayed.
5. Drop Shipping & Long Shipping Times
Some online sellers don’t actually stock items—they order from low-quality suppliers overseas after you purchase.
Common problems:
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Delayed shipping
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Wrong items
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Poor quality
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No customer service
Red flags:
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Extremely low prices
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Delivery dates longer than 2–3 weeks
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Generic or incomplete product descriptions
6. Phishing Emails & Fake Order Confirmations
Scammers send emails pretending to be from online retailers, claiming:
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Payment issues
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Failed deliveries
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Suspicious activity
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Account updates
Never click unknown links
Always check your order history directly through the retailer’s website or app.
7. Stolen or Fraudulent Gift Cards
During the holidays, gift card scams increase dramatically.
Protect yourself:
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Buy gift cards only from trusted stores or official websites.
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Avoid discounted cards on social media or marketplaces.
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Never pay someone using a gift card—this is a major scam tactic.
8. Non-Returnable Items (A Major Issue Across All Platforms)
Not all online purchases can be returned. Many shoppers find this out too late.
Items often marked as NON-returnable:
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Certain electronics
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Beauty, health, and personal items
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Perishable goods
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Customized or personalized items
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Hazardous materials (batteries, chemicals)
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Clearance items
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Digital goods (downloads, codes, licenses)
How to protect yourself:
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Check the return policy before buying—especially for electronics.
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Look for labels like “Not eligible for return”, “Final sale”, or “No refunds.”
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Screenshot the return policy in case the listing changes.
9. Return Shipping Tricks
Even when an item is returnable, some sellers require:
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Expensive return shipping (often overseas)
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Restocking fees
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Original packaging you may have already thrown away
Check for:
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Who pays return shipping
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Where the return must be shipped
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Whether the retailer or seller handles the return
10. Misleading Product Photos (Including AI-Generated Images)
Many sellers use unrealistic product images or AI-generated photos that don’t match the real item.
How to avoid surprises:
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Check customer photo reviews.
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Always verify dimensions—many items appear larger online.
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Be cautious of listings with only polished, studio-style photos.
11. Fake Websites Pretending to Be Real Retailers
Scam websites look professional, but once you pay, the product never arrives.
How to verify a safe website:
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Look for https:// in the URL
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Search for real customer reviews
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Check if the store has a customer service number
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Be cautious of prices far below market value
