Around 1 in 5 Greek consumers say they have been a victim of online shopping fraud during the festive season, according to a global survey of consumer habits, carried out by Klarna – the AI-powered payment and shopping service – in partnership with research firm Nepa .

According to the survey, 18% of Greek consumers said they have experienced online fraud during festive periods in the past, with the age group with the highest percentage being 18-26 (26%).

Increased risk of fraud at sales – Beware of fake shops

“With the start of the winter sales, online shopping traffic is expected to increase. Consumers should be especially careful when shopping online as there is a risk of online fraud from suspicious stores,” notes the head of Klarna in Greece, Ilias Pitsavos.

On this occasion, Klarna suggests that consumers pay attention to the following points in order to have safe online purchases:

– Excessively high discounts. Online stores that offer very steep discounts (especially on well-known brands) may be a sign of fraud, and users should be especially wary of very low prices.

– The name and content of the fake shops. A common feature of fake shops is the use of website names that resemble well-known brands but have slight variations.

If the website name does not match the products offered by the store, this could be an indication of a fake store.

In addition, another sign of an inauthentic store is mistakes (spellings, typos, incorrect phrases) in the texts and content of the website.

– Payment methods. Suspicious online stores can sometimes be identified by the payment methods they offer or which are not available. These stores often prefer an upfront payment, as it makes it harder for shoppers to get their money back. On the other hand, payment methods such as direct debit or purchases through Klarna are not accepted, mainly because the latter provides additional protection to the buyer. By shopping through Klarna, the user has the possibility of an additional level of security when shopping online, which protects him from suspicious stores.

– Unclear refund policies. A reputable store will provide clear instructions on how product returns are made and what the consumer should do if they are unhappy with the purchase. In contrast, fake stores often have refund policies that are difficult to understand, find on the website, or may not even exist.