be aware of scammers
How can you recognize fraudulent websites (scam websites)?
When browsing the internet, you may have noticed that some websites appear less reputable than others. Already a large number of news portals such as Verbraucherzentrale Baden-Württemberg (01.07.2025), Allgäuer Zeitung (11.06.2025), Tagesschau (20.05.2025) and BR24 (12.04.2025) have reported on the danger of scam websites and specifically pointed out fraud when purchasing vignettes. We would like to give you tips on how to recognize fraudulent websites so that you don't fall into the fraudsters' trap and lose money.
Take a closer look at the website's links (URLs)
As soon as you visit a previously unknown website that advertises products for sale, you should check the URL. Pay attention to whether the link contains unusual characters or spelling mistakes.
Cheap doesn't mean reputable
Who doesn't know it? When we browse the internet, we usually try to grab a bargain. But cheap doesn't always mean reputable. Fraudsters often exploit the desire for a rock-bottom price. Therefore, you should be especially careful when a product is offered comparatively cheaply. There have already been several incidents where people bought an invalid vignette and ultimately had to pay the fine for a non-existent vignette.
Payment methods
You should also see it as a warning sign if only advance payment is accepted as a payment method. Reputable shops usually offer a wide variety of payment methods, such as payment by credit card and PayPal, which provide buyer protection. In addition, you should never carelessly give out personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, or TANs.
Legal notice (Imprint)
You should pay special attention to the legal notice and take a closer look. A reputable site always has a legal notice with contact details. This includes the name of the managing director, the company's address, a phone number or email, as well as the commercial register entry.
Verifying the contact details
Better safe than sorry! If you are on a website that seems rather dubious to you, you should not only read the legal notice but also verify the details. Use the address provided to check whether the company really exists.
Trustworthy seals
Reputable websites often use trustworthy seals to build trust. Dubious sites also use this approach, but with fake seals. Therefore, even for websites that have a seal, you should still check the other criteria. A seal does not automatically mean a secure website.
Finally: The general impression
In addition to all these points, you should of course also let the general impression of the website sink in. Do the articles or product information contain spelling mistakes or even grammatically incorrect sentences? Do the texts seem professional, or are the sentences just strung together?
Tip: Take action
If you come across a scam website during your internet research and the points mentioned apply, don't hesitate to report this website to the consumer advice center. This way, you also protect unsuspecting people from fraud.
You can trust us!
Use our tips to protect yourself when making purchases online. Of course, you can also apply this check to us and you will see that we are definitely a reputable site. Feel free to visit Trustpilot to be sure of our trustworthiness and let yourself be reassured by other users' positive reviews. With us, you're on the safe side!
Get your digital vignette for your next trip from us now. You can find more information on tolls and the associated vignettes in our guide. You can also use our route planner to better plan your trip and see the corresponding toll products. If you have any questions, we're happy to help. Contact us via our email.
Here you will find the links to the news portals
If you would like to learn more about scam websites in order to better recognize their characteristics, you can find the websites mentioned above here:
Verbraucherzentrale Baden-Württemberg (01.07.2025)
Allgäuer Zeitung (11.06.2025)
Tagesschau (20.05.2025)
BR24 (12.04.2025)
