Counterfeit MediaMarkt shops in circulation – how to spot the fraud
Criminals operate deceptively authentic fake shops in the name of MediaMarkt. Those who order there lose their money and receive no goods.
Fake shops under MediaMarkt logo: advance payment, no delivery
As meinbezirk.at reports, criminals are misusing the name of electronics retailer MediaMarkt to operate deceptively authentic online shops. The design of the original is replicated in meticulous detail – barely distinguishable to the untrained eye.
The internet addresses are particularly striking. Instead of the official domain, the fraudsters use addresses such as "mediamarkt-gg.com" or "medymarkt.live" – similar-sounding, but clearly counterfeit. Another warning sign is the prices: the offers, including a heavily advertised gaming console, are massively below the usual market value.
During the payment process, the fake shops accept only advance payment. Payment options such as PayPal or credit card are listed as "currently unavailable". Those who nonetheless place an order wait in vain for the goods – the transferred money is lost.
To identify counterfeit shops, it is recommended to check three points: the exact spelling of the URL, conspicuously low prices, and the absence of common payment methods. In case of doubt, one should access the official MediaMarkt website directly in the browser, rather than following links from emails or social networks.
Source: Google News AT — Crime (de)