fakeshophunter.comOrdered from a fake shop? How to get help
You paid and received nothing, a counterfeit or something entirely different. You are not alone: behind these shops is an organised business with many victims. Here is whom to contact, in the right order.
Report your case to us. Together we are louder.
A single complaint is an isolated case for PayPal or TikTok. A hundred complaints naming the same payee across twenty shops are a pattern nobody can overlook. We collect the cases, connect them through shop, payee and TikTok account and pass the bundle on to payment services, TikTok and consumer protection.
Report my caseEvery report counts, even if you already got your money back.
First: get your money back
This is urgent because deadlines apply. Do not wait for replies from the shop; they rarely come or are only meant to buy time.
Paid with PayPal
In your PayPal account, choose “Report a problem” in the Resolution Center, with “Item not received” or “Significantly not as described”. This is usually possible up to 180 days after payment. Important: escalate a dispute to a claim within 20 days, otherwise PayPal closes the case.
Go to the PayPal Resolution Center(login required)Buyer protection policy
Paid by credit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay
Call the bank that issued the card and request a chargeback for goods not delivered. The deadline is usually 120 days. If you entered your card details directly on the shop's site, also have the card blocked (in Germany: 116 116).
Paid with Klarna
In the Klarna app, choose “Report a problem” for the order. The payment is paused while the case is examined.
Paid by bank transfer or prepayment
Call your bank immediately and ask for a recall of the transfer. This only works as long as the money has not been withdrawn. You can object to a direct debit for up to eight weeks after the debit.
Then: pass the case to the right places
Police: file a report
In Germany, online through the internet police station (Onlinewache) of your federal state, without an appointment. The report also helps with PayPal and your bank. Note the file number and give it to them.
TikTok: report the ad
If you can still find the ad, tap “Share” and then “Report”, with fraud as the reason. Note the name of the account that showed the ad. Tell us: this is how we recognise which accounts keep advertising fake shops.
Consumer advice centre: advice
In Germany, the consumer advice centre (Verbraucherzentrale) of your federal state gives advice if the shop or bank does not cooperate. Its fake shop finder also lets you check other shops.
Find an advice centreFake shop finder of the Verbraucherzentrale
fakeshophunter.com: bundle your case
Report the shop, the amount and above all the payee to us. The payee's name appears in the PayPal confirmation or on your bank statement and often differs from the shop's name. That is exactly how we find further shops run by the same business.
Have this ready
- order confirmation and payment receipt with the payee's name
- the address from the ad, if you can still find it
- the name of the TikTok account that showed the ad
- screenshots or a screen recording of the ad and the shop
- all correspondence with the shop
Beware of the second scam
Victims are often approached a second time: supposed lawyers, authorities or “recovery services” promise to get the money back for a fee. Do not pay for this. We never ask for money, passwords or account details.
Questions? Live on TikTok on Fridays at 8:15 pm
In our show we answer questions from people affected and show what the shops do to their buyers.
Report your case to us. Together we are louder.
A single complaint is an isolated case for PayPal or TikTok. A hundred complaints naming the same payee across twenty shops are a pattern nobody can overlook. We collect the cases, connect them through shop, payee and TikTok account and pass the bundle on to payment services, TikTok and consumer protection.
Report my caseEvery report counts, even if you already got your money back.