That “70% off” ad looks tempting. Is the shop real?

A polished ad and a familiar logo can lead to an unfamiliar store. Before you pay, check the seller in a separate tab.

You spot the exact jacket you wanted, marked down to a price that feels too good to miss. The ad looks professional. The shop name sounds familiar. That still does not tell you who will take your payment—or whether anything will arrive.

There is a real reason to pause. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission says shopping scams were the most commonly reported kind of social-media scam in 2025. More than 40% of people who reported losing money to a scam that started on social media said they ordered something they saw in an ad. The FTC recorded $2.1 billion in reported losses from social-media-started scams overall that year.

That figure is U.S. reporting data, not the share of all shoppers who were scammed, and it does not mean every social ad is fraudulent. It does show why a quick check can matter—especially when a seller is unfamiliar or the discount is unusually steep.

Open a fresh tab and search the exact shop name with “scam” or “complaint.” Look for independent reviews across more than one site, then read the delivery, returns and refund terms on the store’s own page. If an ad claims to be a major brand’s outlet, find that brand’s official website yourself and check whether it names the seller. A lock icon or “https” only means the connection is encrypted; it does not prove the shop is genuine.

Before entering payment details, check that the payment method has a clear dispute process where you live. Keep the ad, order page and receipt. If you already paid and something looks wrong, contact your payment provider promptly and ask what options are available; those protections and deadlines depend on your country and payment method.

The quick check: verify the seller outside the ad, read the return terms, and confirm how to dispute a payment before you buy.

The loss figures describe reports to the FTC in the United States and are not a global prevalence estimate. Seller, payment and refund protections vary by country.

Sources: U.S. Federal Trade Commission, 2025 social-media scam data (published 2026); FTC Consumer Advice, online shopping checks.