Shop safer with NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ — a certified fake-shop detection solution

About the test

In June of this year, AV-Comparatives, an independent cybersecurity testing lab, conducted its first fake-shop detection test. This test evaluated how well various cybersecurity solutions — including internet security software, browser extensions, and web filters — could detect and block fraudulent online shops. NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ performed impressively in the initial test, proving its ability to protect users from fake websites.

In November 2024, AV-Comparatives followed up with a second round of testing. This time, they reassessed the products against newly created fake shops and some of the original fake shops that were still active. The test also included 100 real online shopping sites to make sure the products weren’t mistakenly flagging legitimate sites as fake. The goal was to see how well the products handled emerging threats and maintained their effectiveness over time.

Once again, Threat Protection Pro™ delivered strong results, achieving 80–90% detection rates. This consistency earned us the AV-Comparatives fake-shop detection certification. The achievement proves that NordVPN is among the most advanced cybersecurity tools on the market.

Learn more about the test on the AV-Comparatives website: https://www.av-comparatives.org/tests/fake-shops-detection-test-november-2024/.

Why are fake online shopping scams dangerous?

Online shopping scams, including fake shopping websites, are a growing problem for shoppers worldwide. These deceptive sites are made to look like real e-commerce platforms and often use professional designs, fake customer reviews, and tempting discounts to trick buyers. The goal of these scams is to trick even the most cautious shoppers into making purchases or providing personal details. Unfortunately, the result is often devastating for the consumer – orders never arrive, financial information is stolen, and victims are left dealing with severe consequences like financial loss, identity theft, and immense stress.

Fake shops are especially dangerous because they are so convincing. These fraudulent sites usually impersonate legitimate brands and try to trick users by making subtle changes to their domain names. For example, they might replace "Amazon" with "Arnazon" or use short URLs to hide the actual web address. These small changes are easy to miss, especially when combined with professional-looking designs, fake reviews, and irresistible deals. Some sites even go as far as displaying counterfeit security certificates to further deceive users. People need to be aware and protected from these growing online scams.

A rising number of fake shops

Fake shops are on the rise, especially during the sales season. Cybercriminals use advanced tools, including AI, to create fake shops that lure people with deals that are simply too good to resist. In fact, a survey conducted by NordVPN in 2023 revealed that one in four Americans who have fallen victim to online scams experienced them during shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ statistics reveal that the number of blocked attempts to access fake shops recently increased by 35.8%, from around 9.9 million attempts in September to 13.4 million in October — an average of 381 thousand blocked attempts per day. This jump in activity suggests that online shopping scams are becoming more common as the holiday shopping season gets closer. This number will probably be even higher during Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping events.

Common tactics used by fake online shopping sites

Fraudulent online shops use various misleading strategies to deceive consumers. These methods trick people into making purchases and make it impossible to resolve issues or recover funds after being scammed:

• Unrealistic discounts and prices. These sites offer popular items at unbeatable prices but disappear as soon as they have your payment, leaving customers with no way to get their money back.
• Substandard or fake products. When orders are delivered, they’re often not as advertised. Instead of high-quality items, customers receive cheap or fake products – or often nothing at all.
• Impersonating legitimate brands. Scammers copy logos, website designs, and use domain names similar to real brands, making their fake shops look authentic.
• Fake reviews. These fraudulent sites post overly positive reviews and hide negative ones to make their shop seem reliable and trustworthy. These fake reviews tend to be vague and lack specific details, making them easier to spot upon closer inspection. A common red flag is when a very young site has an unusually high number of reviews. Scammers use this tactic to quickly establish trust and lure unsuspecting victims.
• Phishing. Scammers send convincing emails or targeted ads that look like they’re from real brands, tricking users into visiting fraudulent shops.

How to recognize fake shops and protect yourself

While cybersecurity tools are great, they shouldn’t be your only line of defense. It’s best to have a complex approach, which includes common cybersecurity practices and knowledge of how to spot fake shops on your own. Here are some tips to help you identify scam websites and shop safely online:

• Be skeptical of unbelievable discounts. Deals that seem too good to be true often are. Check prices on trusted sites and be cautious of big discounts on popular items.
• Examine website quality. Look for poor grammar, low-quality images, or broken links. If something seems off, trust your instincts.
• Watch out for misspelled domains. Be cautious of domain names that are misspelled or seem suspicious, regardless of the top-level domain (TLD) used. Always check for a valid SSL certificate, indicated by "https://" and a padlock symbol, and ensure that the certificate is issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA). You can also use a URL checker to verify that the domain is safe.
• Look for contact information. Legitimate websites will provide clear contact details, including a physical address, phone number, and email address. These details are usually found in the header, footer, or "About" page.
• Review privacy policies and terms. Ensure the website has a clear privacy policy and accessible terms and conditions for returns, refunds, and shipping.
• Avoid unusual payment methods. Be cautious if a site insists on unusual payment methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Scammers favor these methods because they are harder to trace.
• Research the retailer. Do a quick search online of the retailer’s name along with keywords like "reviews" or "scams." Avoid sites with mostly negative or suspicious reviews.
• Use cybersecurity and privacy tools. Tools like NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ actively block malicious sites, phishing scams, and malware to make your shopping experience safer.

How NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ keeps you safe

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ is one of the top solutions for protecting against scams, phishing attacks, and other cybersecurity threats, including fake shops. It scans your downloads for malware, removes harmful files, and improves your browsing experience by blocking annoying ads and trackers that collect your personal information.

A significant advantage of Threat Protection Pro™ is its advanced anti-phishing capabilities. By using smart AI and an extensive database, the tool helps prevent you from visiting dangerous or fraudulent websites, including new and sophisticated threats that other tools might miss. In September and October alone, it has successfully blocked over 23 million attempts to access fake shops. Plus Threat Protection Pro™ works within our VPN app and covers all browsers (and your activity) in just one click.

NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ has previously been certified by AV-Comparatives for its effectiveness against phishing. After independent testing involving actual phishing attacks, NordVPN became the first VPN to receive AV-Comparatives' certification as an anti-phishing tool.