Online Shopping Scams
Goods paid for and never delivered, from fraudulent storefronts, fake marketplace sellers, and social media advertisements.
Warning signs
These are the patterns we see most often in accepted cases. Recognising one is not proof — but it is a reason to stop and check before sending anything further.
- Prices significantly below market rate
- Payment requested by bank transfer or cryptocurrency rather than a protected method
- A storefront with a recently created domain registration
- No verifiable physical address or contact number
- Reviews that are uniformly positive or clearly templated
How we work a shopping case
The route depends on where the money is now. This is the sequence we work through.
Find the processor
Pursue the dispute route
Aggregate where possible
The same six stages, whichever category you are in
The forensic work differs by fraud type. The process you experience does not.
Intake & Assessment
We review your documentation, confirm the fraud typology, and estimate whether the funds are still traceable. You receive a written assessment, not a sales call.
Forensic Trace
We follow the money. Bank-to-bank transfers, payment processor records, and where applicable on-chain analysis of cryptocurrency movements.
Recovery Strategy
Based on the trace, we select the route most likely to succeed: institution-led recall, negotiated return, civil claim, or a combination. You approve the strategy before we proceed.
Execution
Freezing requests, formal demands, engagement of local counsel, and where necessary legal proceedings. You receive progress updates on a fixed schedule throughout.
Recovery & Return
Recovered funds are returned through secure, documented channels. You receive a full accounting of what was recovered and what was not.
Protection & Follow-up
We advise on account security, credit monitoring, and the specific controls that would have stopped the original fraud.
Find out whether your case is recoverable
Within one week of receiving your documents, you get a written answer either way, with no obligation to proceed.