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Friendsnycofficial.shop flagged as copycat 'official' store with copied catalog (not the real Friends NYC)

MalwareTips calls Friendsnycofficial.shop a High Risk (27/100) copycat 'official' store with a copied catalog; the real Brooklyn gift shop Friends NYC (friendsnyc.com) is not involved.

First reported
Reports
1

Source: malwaretips.com · published

Illustration: Shopping and online scams

What happened

MalwareTips published an investigation on 17 October 2026 calling Friendsnycofficial.shop a fake store with a copied catalog. It says the site takes its catalog, photos and branding from real brands and stores, none of which is behind it. The domain name presents itself as an 'official' store for Friends NYC, the name of a real Brooklyn gift shop whose own website is friendsnyc.com; that business is not involved and does not operate this site. According to the report, the domain was registered on 16 April 2026, and the MalwareTips URL scanner gives it a Safety Score of 27/100, rated High Risk. MalwareTips says such copycat stores are pushed through sponsored TikTok, Instagram and Facebook posts using borrowed pictures, with steep markdowns and countdown timers. Orders may never arrive, may be knockoffs or unrelated items, or may be followed by unknown card charges. MalwareTips advises not to order from the site or enter card details there.

How the scam works

MalwareTips says the scheme follows a script copied across hundreds of copycat stores. A sponsored post appears in a Facebook, Instagram or TikTok feed using images and videos borrowed from real stores and brands, usually with an urgent hook such as an anniversary sale, a warehouse clearance or "we're closing our stores". Comments may be turned off or filled with quick, glowing replies. The site copies product photos, descriptions, menus and "free returns" badges, but a business name, address and working customer service are usually missing or lead nowhere.

At checkout, countdown timers, "only 3 left" badges and "12 people are viewing this" pop-ups push buyers to pay before they look closely, while bundles and free-shipping thresholds raise the basket. After payment a normal-looking confirmation email arrives. A tracking number may follow about a week later but often stays on "label created" or shows delivery in the wrong city, while the card's dispute window runs down. If anything arrives it is usually a cheap copy shipped from overseas; some stores mail a cheap, unrelated item so tracking shows "delivered" and can be used against a refund claim. Support then stalls, or offers a 20% refund to keep the item or a return to China at the buyer's cost.

Source

MalwareTips, "Friendsnycofficial.shop EXPOSED - Fake Store Or Legit? What We Found" (published 17 October 2026).

Red flags

  • A domain that calls itself 'official' but isn't the business's real website (Friends NYC's is friendsnyc.com).
  • A store address that isn't the brand's own website or a retailer the brand lists.
  • Discounts of 70% or more across the whole catalogue (for example $39 for an item that normally costs $180), with countdown timers or 'closing sale' banners.
  • No registered company name, tax number or physical address in the footer, terms or imprint page.
  • Support limited to a contact form or a generic email address, with no phone number or local return address.
  • Refund, shipping and privacy pages copied from another shop, or returns that must go to China at your cost.
  • Five-star reviews that can't be found anywhere else online.

If you were targeted

  1. 1Don't buy from the site or enter your card details at its checkout.
  2. 2Use the business's own website (for Friends NYC, friendsnyc.com) reached through your own search.
  3. 3If you already paid, call your bank or card issuer and ask for a chargeback; disputes have time limits, often around 120 days. If you paid with PayPal, open an 'item not received' or 'significantly not as described' dispute (generally within 180 days).
  4. 4If you typed in your card number, ask for a replacement card, turn on transaction alerts and watch for small test charges.
  5. 5Keep the order email, tracking number and screenshots of the product page.
  6. 6Ignore follow-up 'customs fee' or 'address update' delivery texts, and change any password you reused on the site.
  7. 7Report the ad to the platform where you saw it and, in the U.S., file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (econsumer.gov for cross-border purchases).
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