Scare tactics: What to do about ghost stores

As an increasing number of Australians are ripped off by ghost stores, those caught in the trap may be wondering if there is anything they can do.

These sites pretend to be local, often with a tearjerking story about having to shut their physical store after decades in business, to lure unsuspecting consumers. Once you realise you have been hoodwinked into buying something that has no local connection and is often of poor quality, your money has already gone.

To make matters worse, ghost stores generally operate overseas and can open up under a different name as soon as their misleading, if not fraudulent, practices are made public, making it hard for Australian authorities to hold them to account.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has urged social media platforms and e-commerce sites about online ghost stores (also known as dark stores), with at least 360 reports about 60 online retailers since the start of 2025.

 

 

Can I get my money back?

No one wants to be ripped off. If you receive goods of inferior quality to what was advertised or believe the online outlet has misled you into buying something, you are entitled to a refund or replacement under Australian Consumer Law.

This also applies to goods bought overseas, but the nature of ghost stores makes them hard to keep track of. You can certainly contact the online retailer for a refund but do not be surprised if one is not forthcoming.

Get in touch with your bank or payment provider, such as Paypal, as soon as possible to see if they can either stop the payment or reverse it.

Whether or not you get your money back, it is important to report the ghost store. Not only will you be raising awareness with the general public and relevant authorities, but you will also help put pressure on the platforms where most of these scammers advertise.

 

 

How do I report a ghost store?

There are many ways to report these dodgy outlets, even if it is just to warn others who might otherwise be taken in by the same sales pitch.

Post a negative review about them on Trustpilot or a similar review site outlining the issues, whether they are masquerading as local, selling inferior goods, or not delivering anything as promised.

Take it up with the platform where you first saw the advertisement for the ghost store:

• • You can complain to Facebook and ask them to take action.
  • If you found them through Shopify, report the business.
  • You can also report them to Google and ask to have them delisted.

It is also important to report any site you suspect of being a ghost store to the ACCC, which is ramping up pressure on hosting platforms to protect consumers. Report any suspicious activity to Scamwatch, too. The more we complain, the more pressure can be applied and the more likely authorities will ramp up penalties or prosecution where possible.

 

 

Wising up to scams

Ghost stores are just the latest in the ongoing battle against scammers. Whether it’s spotting fake reviews, that make a business or product sound better than it is, or endless phishing attempts to get personal information through text, email or over the phone, it can be difficult to say ahead of dodgy operators.

If you get caught out, don’t be embarrassed – you are far from alone. Get in touch with us and we’ll help you handle it.