Friday, 24 October 2025
A new wave of fraudulent e-shops imitating well-known Czech retailers has appeared online, causing financial losses for thousands of consumers, according to the Czech Association of Trade and Tourism.
Over the past two weeks, websites copying established brands such as Sportisimo, Tescoma, and Super Zoo have been detected. These sites often advertise on Facebook with discounts of 70 to 90 percent, directing users—mainly via mobile devices—to counterfeit domains where payments are taken but goods are never delivered.
“The fraudulent pages and ads are technically sophisticated. The only clear warning sign is the unrealistic discounts,” said association president Tomáš Prouza.
Retailers affected say their warnings to regulators and platforms have had little effect. Luboš Rejchrt of Super Zoo noted that fraudsters frequently switch domains to avoid detection, and criticized the slow response of both Facebook and Czech authorities.
The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI) confirmed it is monitoring the issue but emphasized that criminal cases fall outside its direct remit. “If deficiencies are found, the inspection imposes measures to remove them, but the collection of money from consumers is a criminal matter,” said ČOI spokesman František Kotrba.
The Association of Trade and Tourism has urged stronger coordination between the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Justice, the police, and consumer representatives. It argues that current legislation does not provide sufficient tools to block fraudulent websites or compel platforms such as Facebook to remove deceptive ads.
The Association for Electronic Commerce (APEK) has also pointed out that enforcement against foreign online marketplaces has been inadequate. According to ČOI, inspections last year found legal violations in 82 percent of audited e-shops, resulting in fines totalling CZK 15.6 million. The most common breach was insufficient information provided to customers about complaints and claims procedures.
Source: CTK
