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 trustworthy than others. Numerous news portals such as the Verbraucherzentrale Baden-Württemberg (consumer advice center) (01.07.2025), the Allgäuer Zeitung (11.06.2025), Tagesschau (20.05.2025) and BR24 (12.04.2025) have already 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 you don't fall into the scammers' trap and lose money.

Take a closer look at the website's links (URLs)

As soon as you visit a previously unknown website advertising products for sale, you should check the URL. Pay attention to whether the link contains unusual characters or spelling errors.

Cheap doesn't mean trustworthy

Who doesn't know this? When we browse the internet, we usually try to snag a bargain. But cheap doesn't always mean trustworthy. Scammers often exploit the desire for a rock-bottom price. Therefore, you should be especially cautious if 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 not having a valid vignette.

Payment methods

You should also see it as a warning sign if advance payment is the only accepted payment method. Reputable shops usually offer a variety of payment methods, such as credit card payment and PayPal, which include buyer protection. Additionally, you should never carelessly disclose personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, or TANs.

Legal notice (imprint)

You should pay particular attention to the legal notice and examine it closely. A reputable website 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 address, as well as the commercial register entry.

Verifying contact details

Caution is better than regret! If you're on a website that seems rather dubious, you shouldn't just read the legal notice—you should also verify the information. Use the provided address to check whether the company actually exists.

Trustworthy seals

Reputable websites often use trustworthy seals to build trust. Dubious websites also use this approach, but with fake seals. Therefore, even if a website has a seal, you should still check the other criteria. A seal alone doesn't necessarily indicate a secure website.

Ultimately: the overall impression

In addition to all these points, you should of course also consider the overall impression the website makes on you. Do the posts or product information contain spelling errors or even grammatically incorrect sentences? Do the texts appear 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 trustworthy website. Feel free to visit Trustpilot to confirm our trustworthiness and let yourself be reassured by other users' positive reviews. With us, you're on the safe side!

Purchase your digital vignette for your next trip with 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 are happy to help. Contact us via email.

Here you can 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)