Is This Website Legit? 8 Ways to Check Fake Shoe Websites

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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 also has 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 fake, fraudulent, or a scam.

Custom officers controlling the destruction of tens of thousands of fake brand sports shoesCustom officers controlling the destruction of tens of thousands of fake brand sports shoes in Hamburg, Germany (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. The URL looks wrong or suspicious

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 albeit non-shopping-related URLs.

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

There are thousands and thousands of fake Christian Louboutin websitesThere are thousands and thousands of fake Christian Louboutin websites

2. The website uses poor English

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:

The website uses poor English

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.

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

3. The product images are stolen

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, just take images off the internet.

Fraudulent websites are known to steal photos of their high-end productsFraudulent websites are known to steal photos of their high-end products

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.

Fake websites try to mimic top fashion brands by stealing their shoe photosFake websites try to mimic top fashion brands by stealing their shoe photos

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

Many fraudulent websites use the same stolen images to scam consumers in America and EuropeMany fraudulent websites use the same stolen images to scam consumers in America and Europe

4. They don’t accept credit cards

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.

If a shoe retailer does not accept VISA/MasterCard, you probably do not want to do business with themIf a shoe retailer does not accept VISA/MasterCard, you probably do not want to do business with them (Credit: tsingha25 / Shutterstock)

5. The deals are 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, that is, if they are even sent to you at all. The old adage prevails: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Beware of shoe deals that are 'too good to be true' as there is a high chance that you could lose moneyBeware of shoe deals that are ‘too good to be true’ as there is a high chance that you could lose money

6. The contact email addresses are free ones

You don’t even have to contact a website that uses a free Hotmail 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.

The contact email addresses are free ones

7. The site’s payment or checkout page does not begin with “https.”

Any kind of 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 in doubt? Do a 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 be able to get an idea of how long the website has been around and which websites are linking to it.

Zappos is an American online shoe and clothing retailer founded in 1999Zappos is an American online shoe and clothing retailer founded in 1999

Examples of Fake Shoe Websites

Be extremely careful if you intend to purchase shoes from the following websites. They are known to steal product images from other retailers, and the shoes are often knockoffs of poor quality from China.

    1. Dresswe
    2. Shoespie
    3. DHgate
    4. AliExpress
    5. Tidebuy
    6. FSJ Shoes
    7. Mollyca
    8. Sandkini
    9. Joy Shoetique
    10. Chellysun
    11. Chic Me
    12. TBdress
    13. Pearlzone
    14. Coochic
    15. Joygos
    16. J20Style
    17. Storenvy
    18. Putshy
    19. Elegant Shoe Girl
    20. Bagsincart
    21. MeetYoursFashion
    22. Calceus (always be suspicious of retailers using .org domains)
    23. Yokest Shoes
    24. Gift Her Shoes (Gifthershoes)
    25. Sneaker Wholesale
    26. Lazajoy
    27. Pearlfeet (Pearl Feet)
    28. Yeesone
    29. Teacalgary
    30. Oxanne
    31. AMZ Shoes (Amzshoes)
    32. Ameliazz
    33. Tristta
    34. Kaaum
    35. Honey Star
    36. Eilyken
    37. Hizada
    38. Fullino
    39. Honeycocoon
    40. Choies
    41. Romwe
    42. Dress Lily
    43. RoseGal
    44. Zaful
    45. BeckyDress
    46. Twinkledeals
    47. SammyDress
    48. Trend Gal
    49. RoseWe
    50. Modlily
    51. Shein
    52. Bellelily
    53. Fairy Season
    54. Annoey
    55. Funny Girly
    56. Discoverfine
    57. Shewin
    58. Pinkysmoon
    59. Loyida
    60. DressAir
    61. MoonMandy
    62. LovelyWears
    63. Chicindress
    64. Popsgirl
    65. Fullino
    66. BeautifulHalo
    67. Rotita
    68. IVRose
    69. Diva New Look
    70. Girlsintrendy
    71. Volajoys
    72. Missgaki
    73. Vickymoda
    74. Flamechill
    75. Luckyhrs
    76. Micasahi
    77. Showyone
    78. Thishoes
    79. Newinshoes
    80. Cheerupshoes
    81. Forishoes
    82. Shoedoes
    83. Filleshoes
    84. Floralmoda
    85. Sundaychoice
    86. Janenobly
    87. Charryme
    88. Pinkfairys
    89. Dudubiz
    90. Monavogue
    91. Chicwish
    92. Enjoy Shoe Shop
    93. Lemonnmoda Fashion
    94. Allyzone

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 seasonVolajoys 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 stay away from.

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 a number of 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 it’s possible that you’ll get a shoe of some kind. However, we can almost guarantee that you will be disappointed. Don’t end up like the lady below!

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

The 18 Best Online Shoe Stores to Buy Shoes

While we think Nordstrom is the best shoe retailer, there are hundreds of legitimate retailers to choose from.

To make your shoe shopping experience way easier, we’ll show you the best online shoe stores to start your shoe shopping:

  1. Farfetch
  2. Nordstrom
  3. Amazon
  4. Zappos
  5. Saks Fifth Avenue
  6. Matches Fashion
  7. ShoeDazzle
  8. Mytheresa
  9. DSW
  10. Bloomingdale’s‎
  11. Toms Shoes
  12. Eastbay
  13. SSENSE
  14. Nordstrom Rack
  15. Harvey Nichols
  16. Saks OFF 5TH
  17. 6pm
  18. Vince Camuto