Beware of Scammers

How can you recognize fraudulent websites (scam websites)?

When you're surfing the internet, you may have noticed that some websites appear less trustworthy than others. Already a multitude of news portals such as the Verbraucherzentrale Baden-Württemberg (01.07.2025), the Allgäuer Zeitung (11.06.2025), the Tagesschau (20.05.2025) and BR24 (12.04.2025) have reported on the dangers of scam websites and have specifically pointed out fraud when purchasing vignettes. We would like to give you some tips on how to recognize fraudulent websites so you don't fall into the fraudsters' trap and lose money.

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

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As soon as you visit a website you don't yet know 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 trustworthy

Who doesn't know this? When we surf the internet, we usually try to grab a bargain. But cheap doesn't always mean trustworthy. Fraudsters often exploit the desire for a bargain price. That's why you should be especially cautious when a product is offered at a comparatively low price. There have already been several incidents in which people bought an invalid vignette and ultimately had to pay the fine for not having a valid vignette.

Payment methods

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You should also treat 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 payment by credit card and PayPal, which include buyer protection. In addition, you should never carelessly hand over personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, or TANs.

Legal notice (imprint)

You should pay particular attention to the legal notice (imprint) and take a closer look. A reputable site always has an imprint 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.

Checking the contact details

Caution is better than regret! If you're on a website that seems less than trustworthy, you shouldn't just read the imprint, 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. Untrustworthy sites also use this approach, but use counterfeit seals. Therefore, even on websites that display a seal, you should still check the other criteria. A seal doesn't automatically mean a website is secure.

Finally: the overall impression

In addition to all these points, you should of course also let the overall 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, during your internet research, you come across a scam website and the points mentioned apply, don't hesitate to report the 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'll see that we are definitely a trustworthy site. 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 corresponding vignettes in our guide. You can also use our route planner to better plan your trip and see the toll products associated with it. If you have any questions, we're happy to help. Contact us via our email.

Here you'll find the links to the news portals

If you'd like to learn more about scam websites 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)