The dodgy sellers and bogus products ripping you off - Which?

In this episode, Erica McKoy sits down with Which? retail expert Hannah Walsh to discuss the rise of bogus boutiques. We share how these sites operate using drop-shipping to sell consumers items which are poor quality. When the item arrives and isn’t what is expected, the consumer then has the cumbersome task of returning the item and paying return fees. Learn how to spot dodgy sites like these, so you can protect yourself from deceptive businesses. 00:00 - Introduction: Are all online "family businesses" legitimate? 00:54 - Case Study: The fake linen blouse ad and emotional hooks 02:37 - Trustpilot horror stories: The "Sylvia and Grace" example 03:25 - The high-cost returns trap (The £26.99 shipping surprise) 04:22 - Product Reality Check: Fake linen, loose threads, and uneven cuts 05:13 - Expectations vs Reality: The printed knit pattern cardigan 05:46 - What is drop-shipping? 07:01 - Consumer Toolkit: How to use a reverse image search to catch bogus shops out 08:15 - Finding the same cheap items on AliExpress and Temu 10:43 - Urgent pressure tactics: Fake countdown clocks and endless sales 11:21 - Spotting completely fabricated review sections and 5-star ratings 13:46 - Online Safety Act: Can new legislation stop the ads? 14:38 - Summary Checklist: How to run website checks using AI tools 15:37 - Pause and think: Resisting social media sales pressure 16:21 - What to do if you’ve been caught out. #onlineshopping #fraudprevention #consumerrights #socialmedia #goingoutofbusiness #liquidation #dropshipping #cybersecurity #shoppingadvice