Czechs increasingly targeted by fake e-shops

Fraud involving fake online shops in Czechia rose by 1190 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024, according to cybersecurity company Gen. Globally, the increase reached 790 percent. Fake e-shops appear and disappear in the thousands, making them difficult to track.

During the Christmas period alone, Gen identified over 80,000 fake online shops worldwide, including 7,500 in the Czech Republic. Most of them have since been taken down or moved to new domains.

According to Gen security expert Jakub Vávra, rising prices are pushing more people to seek better deals on unfamiliar websites, social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace, or direct-from-manufacturer pages. Fraudsters are exploiting this trend by launching convincing websites that mimic well-known sellers of branded fashion, electronics, and household goods.