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MalwareTips: lacosteoutlets.us is a fake shop with a copied catalog, scanner score 28/100

MalwareTips reports in a post published October 21, 2026 that lacosteoutlets[.]us is a fake shop with a catalog copied from elsewhere. MalwareTips says the site was registered on April 30, 2026 and that its URL scanne…

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Source: malwaretips.com · published

Illustration: Shopping and online scams

What happened

MalwareTips reports in a post published October 21, 2026 that lacosteoutlets[.]us is a fake shop with a catalog copied from elsewhere. MalwareTips says the site was registered on April 30, 2026 and that its URL scanner gives it a Safety Score of 28/100 (High Risk). According to MalwareTips, real brands and stores do not run the site even though it copies their catalog, photos and branding, and orders that arrive contain cheap imitations rather than genuine items. It describes a copycat-store network that advertises heavily on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, collects orders and switches domains when complaints build. MalwareTips advises not to place an order and not to enter card information at checkout.

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", 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, "Lacosteoutlets.us EXPOSED - Scam Or Legit? Investigation" (published 21 October 2026).

Red flags

  • 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. 2Find the brand's official website through your own search and buy there or from retailers it lists.
  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).
ReportFraud.ftc.gov FBI IC3 More resources

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