Pusaram

Fake shops, fake delivery messages and refund scams

An online shop that never delivers, or a message about a missed delivery or refund that leads to payment or data theft.

How it works

  • You find a brand-new website selling products at a very large discount, often promoted by social media adverts. You pay and the goods never arrive, or a cheap substitute does.
  • Or you receive a text about a missed parcel or a refund, with a link to 'reschedule' or 'claim' that asks for card details or a small fee.
  • Some fake sites also copy the look of real brands so that you enter your login.

Warning signs

  • Prices far below market, with countdown timers and 'only 2 left'.
  • A site with no real address, no reviews outside itself, and payment only by bank transfer or gift card.
  • Delivery or refund messages with unfamiliar links.
  • Spelling or web address slightly different from the real brand.

What to do

  • Buy from known shops, check reviews outside the shop's own site, and pay by methods with buyer protection.
  • Track parcels only through the courier's or shop's official app or site, not message links.
  • If you paid a fake shop, contact your bank at once and report to the cyber-crime channel.

A made-up example of what you might hear

'Your parcel could not be delivered. Pay a small re-delivery fee at this link within 24 hours or it will be returned.'

If you already paid or shared a code

  • Call your bank or card issuer straight away and ask them to block the card, account or payment. Use the number on the card or the official website.
  • Change passwords for any account that may be affected, starting with email and banking. Turn on two-step verification.
  • Report it to the authorities (see the list below). Keep screenshots, phone numbers, account details, transaction IDs and times.

Where to report

Author and editorial reviewer: Prashant Nandkishor Maheshwari, 2026-10-18. Education only. Rules and reporting channels differ by country.