Here are some tips on how to avoid visiting fake and fraudulent websites while shopping on Google

First, let's take the "Toro 60V Max 22 in. Recycler Personal Pace Mower" as an example.

Those marked "Fake" are fake. Why?

Let's analyze the product links:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjDz6-4t_6QAxX3EkQIHa9zLxMYACICCAEQGRoCZHo&co=1&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g5hWW8PIh5nxZdy0lFlNFLQhe-PNh4K5vCXV-hnzAux3o0NhSni5rhoCoAkQAvD_BwE&cid=CAASugHkaM1WgIzxdI1FQUOt9U85kX3QHCvf_QQETqNNGlE_6O5EXSMesInX5HxfEYGQcGytd3YehYO8b5fjFzpYZeOX5h1niF_1jA4slWVvyTBSqzRYz3DoJ2qDDuzsPLxCYpWgAf3C48LnKT5Vu79WNbZBMx7nu55WyiGxYtMz-65OFYD1z-xnh0yQ7vRg0qSTaXTJ55_FArsZQZ6hhrEk_LwwDz66PLcnCzvAA-kCd9McS4Dfb20uxFesWxc&cce=2&category=acrcp_v1_32&sig=AOD64_3tEmr6-OPV2qnnN7z51v0_qacWzA&ctype=5&q=&nis=4&ved=2ahUKEwjZtKm4t_6QAxUXN0QIHZwSGXEQ9aACKAB6BAgGECI&adurl=

This is his ad code, which we get when we click it.

https://senturacoffees.com/product/toro-60v-max-22-in-recycler-personal-pace-mower/?utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=4222849201&hsa_cam=23226608157&hsa_grp=188296432276&hsa_ad=782677652065&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=pla-293946777986&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23226608157&gbraid=0AAAAABU98A9nDJnuPJIiqPY4N-IBWPuxm&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g5hWW8PIh5nxZdy0lFlNFLQhe-PNh4K5vCXV-hnzAux3o0NhSni5rhoCoAkQAvD_BwE

This is a website that doesn't redirect; it uses WordPress.

Question 1: Why doesn't it redirect?

Answer: If there's no redirect and the price is lower than normal, it's 100% a fraudulent or phishing website.

Question 2: How did it pass Google Merchant Center's review?

Answer: They didn't use senturacoffees.com to apply for a Google Merchant Center account. They used a different account. I spent some time finding the domain they used: senturacoffee.com. Yes, you read that right, the new domain just added an 's' and replaced senturacoffee.com with senturacoffees.com.

Note that Figure 1 shows a legitimate website applying for a Google Merchant status, while Figure 2 shows a fake website.

Furthermore, the website is named "Sentura Coffee," but it doesn't sell coffee-related products; instead, it sells high-priced tools, appliances, and other similar items. This is a red flag.

This is the first fake website.

Next, we will analyze the second fake website.

www.harrellamb.com

When we click:

https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwjDz6-4t_6QAxX3EkQIHa9zLxMYACICCAEQMBoCZHo&co=1&ase=2&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g0WKGD_pqXRB5_Kif8R-IiRTGexSQDmV5sigMk5JohJrmdw7C9_qrxoCzfcQAvD_BwE&cid=CAASugHkaM1WgIzxdI1FQUOt9U85kX3QHCvf_QQETqNNGlE_6O5EXSMesInX5HxfEYGQcGytd3YehYO8b5fjFzpYZeOX5h1niF_1jA4slWVvyTBSqzRYz3DoJ2qDDuzsPLxCYpWgAf3C48LnKT5Vu79WNbZBMx7nu55WyiGxYtMz-65OFYD1z-xnh0yQ7vRg0qSTaXTJ55_FArsZQZ6hhrEk_LwwDz66PLcnCzvAA-kCd9McS4Dfb20uxFesWxc&cce=2&category=acrcp_v1_32&sig=AOD64_13lst4lfhc3f8BzdKyWJZ4g8M7IQ&ctype=5&q=&nis=4&ved=2ahUKEwjZtKm4t_6QAxUXN0QIHZwSGXEQ9aACKAB6BAgGEE0&adurl=

The link appears when you enter the website:

https://www.harrellamb.com/products/toro-self-propelled-gas-lawn-mower-22-in-honda-engine-high-wheel-variable-speed_07a3e21c?currency=USD&variant=42819383263268&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&stkn=2ea143a06a66&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22850772606&gbraid=0AAAABAx0qnQj6nI2NgIwglZPlAafmZWVw&gclid=CjwKCAiA8vXIBhAtEiwAf3B-g0WKGD_pqXRB5_Kif8R-IiRTGexSQDmV5sigMk5JohJrmdw7C9_qrxoCzfcQAvD_BwE

Then you will be redirected to another website.

https://zhdfosua.shop/products/toro-self-propelled-gas-lawn-mower-22-in-honda-engine-high-wheel-variable-speed_07a3e21c

Of course, if we are accessing:https://www.harrellamb.com/products/toro-self-propelled-gas-lawn-mower-22-in-honda-engine-high-wheel-variable-speed_07a3e21c

It won't redirect.

Its redirection code is located on the product page, and I found their code as follows:

<form name="products_href" method="POST" style="display:none" action="https://get.xcoachest.com/gw/upSpu/">
    <input type="hidden" name="spu" value="7998823989284">
  </form>
  <script>
    const spuValue = document.querySelector('input[name="spu"]').value;
    fetch('https://get.xcoachest.com/gw/getIP/', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        'Content-Type': 'application/x-www-form-urlencoded'
      },
      body: new URLSearchParams({ spu: spuValue })
    })
    .then(response => {
      if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
      return response.json();
    })
    .then(data => data.code === 100 && document.forms.products_href.submit())
    .catch(error => console.error('Fetch error:', error));
  </script>