The Agency for Communication Networks and Services of the Republic of Slovenia as the coordinator of digital services, is informing the public about a major campaign by the European Commission to highlight the scams and fraud that take place when shopping on online platforms. The campaign will run until 22 December 2025.
In particular on social networks and online marketplaces, there are posts and advertisements for products/services behind which fraudsters are behind. They create fake online shops or offer fake products or services on social networks that do not exist and are not received by online users despite payment. They also often advertise goods such as second-hand vehicles, electronics, household appliances, collectibles and the like. The European Commission has also warned of scams in the accommodation rental sector, with some fraudsters posing as renters of apartments and rooms for rent or holiday rentals.
The main highlights of the campaign, which are recommendations for all online users, are:
- Think before you buy: if an offer seems too good to be true, it most likely is.
- Stick to verified sources: check reviews before you buy and pay attention to verified signs of sellers.
- Is payment secure? Buy from sites that use secure 3D authentication.
- Check the identity of the trader: check contact details and compare them with those on official websites.
- Protect your banking details: never share your payment card or bank account details via email, text messages or phone calls.
Have you detected fraud or anything suspicious? Report a scam directly to the online platform using the reporting mechanisms. Under the Digital Services Act, platforms are obliged to take action and communicate their decision to you, and you can lodge a complaint if they fail to do so.
More information is available here and on the EC website. The Agency adds that it has been actively raising users' awareness of how to protect themselves from online scams for the past five years through the Media and Information Literacy portal and invites them to follow the informative content.
