How to Spot Fake Shoe Websites: 8 Red Flags Every Shopper Should Know

It has never been easier to shop for shoes online, with shoe retailers like Nordstrom and Zappos offering free return shipping and unbeatable customer service.

Sadly, it has also never been easier to create a fake website. To help protect fellow shoe lovers from these scammers, we put together this guide showing many ways to determine if a website is a scam.

Custom officers supervise the destruction of thousands of counterfeit Nike shoes and boxes seized from shipping containers (Credit: Christian Charisius / picture-alliance / Cover Images)

Without even doing a Whois search, a domain name registration check, or anything technical, you will soon be able to tell if the website you’re shopping on is only out to rip you off.

The following eight red flags should already tip you off that a website is a scam right at first glance. We’ll also show you websites to avoid and the ten best shoe stores online!

1. Suspicious URL: When the Web Address Looks Wrong

You can’t expect a legitimate transaction to happen from a website with a URL that reads “cheapdesignershoes,” “designershoeswholesale,” or “brand-name-shoes-outlet.” However, some scam websites have gotten creative.

In the image below, you can see how they have worked around the suspicious URL problem by using other seemingly innocent-looking URLs that are not related to shopping.

If you click on them, they redirect to another website, which is a clear sign that a shopping website is fake.

A quick Google search for “cheap Louboutin shoes” reveals fake websites—legitimate retailers never use phrases like “discount” or “wholesale”

2. Poor English and Grammar: A Tell-Tale Scam Sign

If a shopping website makes you ask if you’re on an online store or Engrish.com, then you should probably close the tab.

No legitimate e-commerce site would publish misspellings and bad grammar. Valid sites would put more effort into the product names, descriptions, and overall content.

Stay away from a website that instructs you to get your shoe size like this:

Fake websites often display poorly written English in their size guides, a clear giveaway of illegitimacy

There’s a lot more leeway for mistakes in the product feedback, but be suspicious if a buyer reviews “sexy red stiletto heel platform shoes” when the actual item is a pair of polka-dotted pumps.

Suspiciously generic or poorly written product reviews are another red flag that a website may be selling counterfeit shoes

3. Stolen Product Images: Spot the Copy-Paste Trick

If the photos of the products a site is selling are not uniform, it’s a big, flashing red sign that they were just taken from other websites.

Legitimate websites use their own images taken by their own photographers. Fake websites, on the other hand, take pictures from the internet.

Fake retailers like ShoesPie often steal product images from legitimate luxury stores such as Bergdorf Goodman to appear authentic

Below are two examples of images that were obviously lifted from other websites. We’ve been shoppers at Bergdorf Goodman for a long time, so we know that the shoe images on the left are theirs.

In the image below to the right, you can even still see the celebrity cropped out of the original pic.

Scam sites frequently reuse photos taken from real e-commerce platforms or random internet sources to sell counterfeit shoes

Scam sites also typically offer many of the same products using the same pictures.

Fraudulent sites like TideStore, ShoesPie, and TideBuy display identical product photos to market the same fake designer heels

4. No Credit Card Payments Accepted: Major Red Flag

It’s very easy to copy and paste credit card images on a website, but on fake ones, they are only there for show.

Scammers don’t like credit card payments because credit card companies can give the customer his/her money back if a dispute is filed.

Watch out for a website that accepts Western Union and MoneyGram. Through those anonymous direct cash payment services, scammers can run away with your money scot-free.

Always verify website legitimacy before checking out—scammers rely on impulsive online shoppers to exploit trust (Credit: tsingha25 / Shutterstock)

5. Unrealistic Discounts: Too Good to Be True

Limited edition, out-of-production Christian Louboutins for $205? Get outta here! No, seriously, get out of the website.

The shoes sent to you will most likely be pirated or fake, if they are sent to you at all. The adage prevails: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

A listing offering $205 Louboutins is a classic red flag—luxury shoes at steep discounts are almost always counterfeit

6. Free Email Addresses: Unprofessional or Fake

You don’t even have to contact a website that uses a free Gmail email account to know that it’s fake. If they provide a phone number, call during business hours to check if anyone answers.

If they provide a street address, look it up on Google Maps to see if a business at that location really exists. Be wary if a website only has a contact form and provides no contact information whatsoever.

Fake retailers often use free email services like Hotmail instead of domain-based addresses, a clear sign of unprofessional and suspicious operations

7. Missing HTTPS: Unsafe Checkout Pages

Any payment, checkout, or shopping cart page must have a URL that starts with “https.”

If a website asks you to fill out a form and the URL for that page only begins with “http,” don’t enter anything and exit that page immediately.

On unsecured pages, anyone can hack your information, and you can stand to lose a lot more than just your hard-earned cash.

8. Still Unsure? Run a Quick Google Search

A reputable shoe retailer like Zappos has been mentioned millions of times on the Internet. Try looking up the retailer that you’re planning to buy from.

You should quickly get an idea of how long the website has been around and which websites are linking to it.

A quick Google search confirms that reputable retailers like Zappos have verified domains, strong brand presence, and clear customer service information

⚠️ Fake Websites to Avoid (A–Z Directory)

Below is a verified list of suspicious or fraudulent online stores known for selling counterfeit shoes, bags, and clothing. Click a letter to expand each section and check whether a site appears on the list.

❓ Common Scam Site Questions

What is Volajoys?

Registered in China on October 28, 2020, Volajoys uses pictures stolen from other websites. The website was most likely created to target US shoppers during the 2020 Christmas shopping season.

Volajoys and numerous other Chinese scam websites were created in late 2020 to scam US shoppers during the busy holiday shopping season

The company behind Volajoys also seems to operate a number of other websites, including Flamechill, Missgaki, Luckyhrs, Vickymoda, Micasahi, Molyashoes, Gailystores, Showyone, Thishoes, Newinshoes, Cheerupshoes, Forishoes, Shoedoes, Filleshoes, Floralmoda, Cosysandals, Sundaychoice, Janenobly, Charryme, Pinkfairys, Dudubiz, Monavogue, Prettyava, Rosypair, Lindojulia, Tildashoes, Yofootwear, Pickymoda, Skyeyway, Foggymoda, Leopardor, Susiecloths, Shoeskakos, Massimoda, Lorinstyle, Bootzen, Focuscloths, Cozyfad, Thalishoes, Jellipops, Cheerblues, Zeldacloth, Mavishoes, Irishoes, Cosymoda, Shoesideal, Shoesido, Friday4me, Firstchicco, Meikoshoes, Halopops, Faddishshoes, Donutsgirls, Pickpairs, Bokushoes, Shoeslists, Kandylane, Boots More, UltimShoe, Kakifad, Minavogue, Cieleshoes, Maroonshoes, Upawear, BeeShoz, Thebellely, Chicinskates, Monacocco, Chicrolla, Fucaia, Rolashoes, Injoywear, Variedshoes, Galawears , Ellaootd, Fainditty, Findermy, Romodas, Kayleeshops, Cocashoes, Yeddashoes, Lulupairs, Vidiashoes, Reallzoy, Millamolla, Lemmikshoes, Katyashoes, Palteish, Douyouth, Lalibuy, Caemenflora, Shoegoing, Mokoshoes, Saltefis, Goodsdailyshop, Coroshoes, Flameccstore, Deapink, Chicht, Popgoing, Ricomall, Kakimoda, Tumlines, Sofiawears, Vivineshoes, and many more!

Is Yokest Shoes a legit website?

Registered in China in March 2019, Yokest Shoes appears to be a scam website. They use product images that are copied from other retailers. The company behind Yokest Shoes also operates Lazajoy, which is another site you should avoid.

Is BeautifulHalo trustworthy?

No, the website is a scam. The same company also seems to operate Younghoodie and HTYSports.

Is Rotita from China?

Yes, the website was registered in China in 2014. Rotita uses the same Shanghai address as Modlily, another scam company.

Is Fullino legit?

No, unfortunately, the website appears to be a scam. It’s not possible to see where the site is based, but Fullino uses product images taken from other websites.

Are Pearlfeet and Pearlzone legit companies?

Also known as Pearl Feet and Pearl Zone, they are not legitimate websites. The reviews are horrible and both websites (likely owned by the same company) do their best to hide the identity of their owners.

Is Bellelily legit?

No, Bellelily is yet another scam Chinese website with terrible reviews. We do not recommend buying anything from this retailer.

Where is Gifthershoes based?

As of March 2020, Gifthershoes is no longer in business. The company shipped shoes of extremely low quality from China.

Is Yeesone a legitimate company?

No, it’s definitely a scam. The fraudsters behind Yeesone also operate several other websites, including Teacalgary, Oxanne, Ameliazz, and Tristta.

Are Kaaum shoes any good?

No, the reviews of Kaaum are awful. We’ve not read a single good review about this company.

If you purchase from a fake shoe website, please note that you might receive a shoe, but it might not be the one you expected. However, we can almost guarantee that you will be disappointed. Don’t end up like the lady below!

A racegoer suffers a broken heel during day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2012, in Ascot, England (Credit: WENN)

🧠 Helpful Guides: Learn How to Spot Fakes

Whether you’re shopping for designer heels, everyday sneakers, or luxury jackets, knowing how to identify authentic products is essential. From subtle stitching details to suspicious URLs, these expert guides from Your Next Shoes will help you shop smarter and steer clear of scams.