a new fraud scheme has appeared in russian online markets. criminals create a store that looks legitimate on the official site and then steer buyers to a fake page under the pretense of switching to a more convenient delivery option, according to vladimir ulyanov, head of an analytical center. security firm zecurion shared this with gazeta.ru.
marketplaces in russia attract a huge audience seeking the best prices. the scammers lure buyers with discounted products, appearing near the top of search results and staying highly visible among other shops in a matter of days, ulyanov explained.
first, scammers open a storefront on a trusted market with low prices to attract victims. when a buyer adds an item to the cart and completes payment, the store cancels the order and issues a refund after a short delay. this sequence builds the buyer’s trust, according to ulyanov.
then the seller engages the customer via private messages on the marketplace. they claim the product is in a different warehouse and suggest ordering through yandex delivery, directing the buyer to a third party site.
the page looks like a real checkout powered by yandex but is not connected to it. it includes a product card and the price shown on the market to persuade the buyer, ulyanov noted.
on the fake site, the victim ends up providing personal details, including address, card information, and delivery data.
how it looks
an information security expert gave socialbites.ca screenshots illustrating a fake store deceiving russian shoppers. the exchanged messages imitate a genuine seller. in one example, a telecom product is apologized for a canceled order and offered to deliver the same item at the same price in 1–2 days, with no delivery from ozon. in this case the scammer tries to move the conversation to whatsapp.
as the chat continues on a messenger, the criminal asks the buyer to wait for a refund from ozon before following the fake link to order via the so-called yandex delivery.
a source familiar with the matter told socialbites.ca that such scams surged in may on the marketplace. the source added that these cases are now isolated and handled by internal tools.
customers are advised to contact the seller only through the marketplace and to pay within the marketplace system to reduce risk.
elena gokanova, head of the dihouse ecommerce unit within the lanit group, noted that poor control on some sites allows scammers to operate more freely. the growth of fraud is tied to the influx of new sellers and marketplaces aiming to expand their audience and market share.
ivan samoylenko, managing partner at bc agency, suggested scammers exploit price pressure. the temptation of lower prices can drive people to risky, unknown sellers, he observed.
consequences of ordering from a fake link
ulyanov stressed that a fake order can lead not only to a monetary loss but also to the theft of personal data including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. card details may also be compromised for fraudsters who want to steal funds.
elena gokanova added that current plans succeed because some marketplaces allow direct buyer payments to sellers. that change gave scammers more freedom. overall, scam activity grows with the popularity of this shopping model.
ivan samoylenko argued marketplaces must respond quickly and block fake stores on their official sites. he admitted that keeping a constant watch is challenging, especially on high-demand platforms, and protecting buyers can lag behind demand.
what to watch for
ulyanov recommended first doubting any offer to place an order outside the marketplace features. scammers push personal messaging outside the site or through off platform channels, he said.
the most reliable signal is an unusually rapid response to a placed order, especially outside regular hours, he added.
buyers should be wary of prices that are too good to be true. some scammers try not to push the price too far so the storefront seems legitimate, yet undercuts market norms.
elena gokanova suggested buyers feel safe when all payments and data entry stay within the marketplace and the buyer’s account remains the control point for the transaction.
to avoid falling for the scheme, ulyanov offered three practical rules: never pay outside the marketplace, do not click on off site links from private messages, and cancel the order if the seller pushes to discuss it outside the marketplace after checkout.
ozon’s press team later confirmed a rise in attempts by unscrupulous sellers to misuse online platforms. they stated that verification of sellers has intensified, including automatic checks and manual monitoring of seller actions, with inventory capped at abnormally low prices and extra verification measures. the company also said it collaborates with customers and law enforcement to punish those who attempt fraud.