This guide is for UK shoppers who search for voucher codes before they check out. It explains how scammers use that habit and how to keep your money and details safe.
It covers the main scam types, quick checks to run on any site, what to do if you have been caught out and how to get your money back.
Why do scammers target voucher code searches?
Scammers target code searches because shoppers are ready to pay and keen to save. Search any retailer's name with "discount code" and most results are genuine. A few, though, exist to steal card details, collect email addresses or push harmful software.
Fake deals also spike before Black Friday and Christmas, when people buy more and check less. Knowing the common tricks makes them much easier to spot.
Common voucher and shopping scams
Most voucher scams fall into a few types. Each one looks different, but they all want your money, your details or your clicks.
Fake code generators
These sites or apps claim to create working codes for a named shop, often with a spinning animation. They cannot work, because retailers create codes in their own systems. A generator either shows a random string that fails at checkout or asks you to "verify you are human". That step usually means a survey, an app install or a subscription that earns the site money.
Cloned retailer websites
Cloned sites copy the look of a well-known shop and use a web address one or two characters off the real one. They offer prices that are far too good, such as a £900 laptop for £299. You often find them through social media adverts, text messages or search ads. Fashion and sportswear brands are copied most.
Pay-to-unlock code sites
Some sites show a blurred code and ask for a small fee, a premium-rate text or card details for a "free trial" to reveal it. Genuine discount codes are never sold. Sites like this either show you nothing useful or sign you up to a subscription that is hard to cancel.
Rogue browser extensions
Coupon extensions that test codes at checkout can be genuine, but the idea is also used to spread malware. A rogue extension can read what you type, including passwords and card numbers. Install extensions only from the official browser store, and check the developer, the reviews and the permissions requested.
Fake codes on social media
Accounts posing as retailers or influencers post "90% off" codes that link to a site that is not the retailer's. Real promotions come from verified accounts and link to the shop's own domain. Check where the link goes before you tap it.
How can you tell if a website is fake?
A few quick checks catch most fake shops. Run them before you enter any card details.
Read the web address carefully
Look at the part just before the first single forward slash. "argos.co.uk" is Argos, but "argos.co.uk-sale.shop" is not. Extra words, hyphens and endings such as .shop, .top or .xyz are warning signs next to a well-known brand name.
Do not rely on the padlock
The padlock means the connection is encrypted, not that the site is honest. Criminals get security certificates easily, so many fake shops have one. A missing padlock, however, is a clear reason to leave.
Look for company details
Genuine UK retailers show a registered company name, an address and a way to contact customer service. A site with only a contact form and no company details is a risk. Prices far below every other shop are another strong warning sign.
Search for reviews
Search the site's name with "scam" or "reviews". Fake shops rarely last long before people start complaining online.
What does a genuine code site look like?
A trustworthy code site shows codes for free and tells you where they came from. It links straight to the retailer's own website and never asks for payment, card details or an app install. It also tells you about terms, such as minimum spends and end dates.
Our guide on finding genuine discount codes in the UK covers this in more detail. For judging the deal itself, see how to check whether an online deal is worth it.
What to do if you have been scammed
Act quickly, because speed improves your chances of stopping further losses. Work through these steps in order.
Contact your bank straight away
Call your bank or card provider using the number on the back of your card. They can block the card, watch for fraud and start a dispute. Never use a phone number given by the suspicious site or message.
Report it to Action Fraud
Action Fraud is the national reporting centre for fraud in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, report it to Police Scotland instead. You will get a crime reference number, which your bank may ask for. Reporting rarely returns your money directly, but it helps get fake sites taken down.
Clean up your devices
If you installed an extension or app, remove it. Change the passwords for your email and bank first, then any other accounts you used while it was installed. Run a security scan and turn on two-factor sign-in where you can.
Get advice from Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice runs a consumer helpline and explains your rights when a purchase goes wrong. It offers template letters for refund claims and can pass details to Trading Standards.
Getting your money back
Two routes can return money paid by card: chargeback and Section 75. Which one applies depends on how you paid and how much the item cost.
Chargeback
Chargeback is a card scheme rule that lets your bank reverse a debit or credit card payment. It covers goods that never arrived or were not as described. It is not a legal right, but banks generally use it. You usually need to ask within 120 days of the payment or the expected delivery date.
Section 75
Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 applies to credit cards only. It covers a single item costing more than £100 and up to £30,000. The card provider is jointly liable with the seller, so you can claim from it if the shop fails to deliver or disappears. That is why paying for bigger items by credit card makes sense, even if you clear the balance straight away.
Simple habits that keep you safe
- Type the retailer's web address yourself instead of clicking links in ads or messages.
- Use codes only from sources that are free and say where each code came from.
- Pay by credit card for larger purchases.
- Keep browser extensions to a minimum and review them every few months.
- Close the tab if a deal looks far too good.
None of this means you should stop looking for discounts. Retailers such as ASOS and JD Sports run genuine promotions all the time. The aim is to tell a real deal from a trap, and to know who to call if something goes wrong. Our FAQ answers common questions about how codes work.