According to the DGCCRF, reported in October 2026, three-quarters of the products tested on seven foreign platforms did not comply with European regulations, and nearly half were both non-compliant and dangerous. In light of this finding, successfully shopping online requires knowing how to evaluate a seller, a product, and a payment method before clicking “Order”.
Non-compliant products on marketplaces: what inspections reveal
The product risk directly concerns the health and safety of buyers, well beyond just the payment issue.
The DGCCRF inspections focused on sensitive categories: electrical devices, toys, jewelry. Nearly half of the tested products were dangerous. Before confirming a purchase on a marketplace, three checks can reduce this risk:
- The identity of the third-party seller must be accessible from the product page, with a physical address and a verifiable business name.
- A representative established in the European Union must be identifiable, as mandated by the Digital Services Act since February 17, 2024, for all intermediary service providers.
- Safety warnings (CE marking, notices in French, danger pictograms) must be present on the product page or in the seller’s description.
The absence of any of these elements indicates a product that has likely not been inspected before being put up for sale. Comparing prices across multiple platforms, including on deal aggregators like shoopeo.fr, also helps identify abnormally low prices that suggest a questionable product.
Online payment fraud: risk overview by purchase channel
The 2025 annual report from the Payment Security Observatory, published by the Banque de France in September 2026, confirms a decline in the number of fraudulent transactions. However, not all channels are equal.
| Purchase Channel | Fraud Risk Level | Main Point of Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant site with 3D Secure | Decreasing | Check for the presence of the HTTPS padlock and strong authentication |
| Marketplace (third-party seller) | Moderate | Use the platform’s integrated payment, never an external transfer |
| Sales between individuals | Above average | Refuse any payment outside the platform’s secure process |
Peer-to-peer sales platforms have a higher fraud rate than the average for remote payments. The most common scenario involves requesting a direct bank transfer, outside the platform’s payment system, under the pretext of reduced fees.
In contrast, card payments on merchant sites equipped with strong authentication (3D Secure) have seen a significant decrease in fraud in recent years. The gap between these two channels justifies never accepting a payment method that bypasses integrated protections.
Dark patterns and false crossed-out prices: interface traps to avoid
The Digital Services Act, in its Article 25, prohibits interfaces designed to deceive or manipulate users. However, these practices, known as dark patterns, remain widespread.
Fictitious availability counters and false urgencies are among the most common techniques. A message like “Only 2 left in stock” or a countdown displayed in red aims to trigger an impulsive purchase. There is no legal obligation for the site to prove the accuracy of these counters.
False promotions and inflated crossed-out prices
The DGCCRF has issued injunctions against sites practicing false crossed-out prices. The mechanism is simple: the reference price is artificially inflated to create the illusion of a discount. To verify, simply check the product’s price history on an independent comparator or note the price a few days before a sales period.
Pre-checked boxes (insurance, subscriptions, paid options added to the cart) also fall under dark patterns. Checking each line of the cart before validation remains the most effective reflex against these silent additions.
Right of withdrawal and return conditions: deadlines to know
The Consumer Code (articles L221-1 and following) regulates distance purchases and imposes a right of withdrawal. This period begins upon receipt of the product, not on the order date.
Some sellers impose return conditions that are more restrictive than the legal framework, including high return fees or the requirement for the original packaging to be intact. Reading the general sales conditions before purchase avoids unpleasant surprises at the time of return.
Purchases during sales or Christmas
During peak commercial activity, delivery times lengthen and returns become complicated. Two precautions are necessary: always keep the order confirmation with the displayed price, and check that the seller’s customer service is reachable (email address, phone number, chat). A site that offers no identifiable means of contact deserves the utmost caution.
The Banque de France report highlights that the increase in the total amount of fraud remains more moderate than that of the volume of online transactions. Protective tools exist and work, provided they are used. Accepting a transfer outside the platform, ignoring a suspicious crossed-out price, or validating a cart without re-reading it remain the most frequent and easiest mistakes to avoid.
