TalkScams Team · Source-backed educational guide · Not a community report
Retailer lookalike site charges a different merchant name
A forged brand store may accept an order and send a normal-looking receipt, while the payment statement reveals an unrelated seller. The FTC documented this discrepancy in fake clearance-sale schemes.
Source: U.S. Federal Trade Commission · Original advisory date: 2025-05-07
This summary is not a firsthand report or an endorsement or partnership by the source.
Warning signs to recognize
- Your bank statement lists a payee unrelated to the brand you believed you bought from.
- The seller's identity and payment protections cannot be verified
How to check or protect yourself
- Contact your payment provider and report the impersonation to the real retailer.
- Retain receipts and report suspicious merchants to the marketplace or FTC