What looks like a tempting offer actually turns out to be a trap: an advertising campaign is currently running on TikTok advertising heavily discounted running shoes from the Brooks brand. The link leads to the website eu.brooksproduct.com, a supposed online store that appears reputable at first glance. But research shows: Behind the offer is a fake store that taps into customer data and makes fraudulent charges.
One affected person told DieSachsen.de that after placing an order, a debit under the unknown name PORTERPITMAN appeared on his credit card statement - but the ordered product never arrived. There was also no response from the store. The suspicion is obvious: this is a case of using supposed offers to generate as many orders as quickly as possible - without any real goods in the background.
Who is behind this?
The brooksproduct.com site is neither officially authorized nor does it belong to the real Brooks brand. The original website of the running shoe manufacturer is www.brooksrunning.com - it explicitly warns against fraudulent offers under similar-sounding domains. Users on platforms such as Reddit also report dubious direct debits, undelivered goods and fake customer reviews.
How do I recognize a fake store?
A professional appearance alone is not enough to give you confidence. A closer look helps:
- Is there an imprint?
- Are there contact options beyond an anonymous contact form?
- Do the domain name and brand identity match the official brand?
- Are the prices unrealistically low?
In the case of brooksproduct.com, there is no legal notice, the brand name is used without permission, and the website is neither SSL-encrypted nor linked via official Brooks channels.
What can I do if I have already ordered?
If you have fallen for such an online scam, you should:
- immediately inform the bank or credit card company and complain about the payment,
- File a complaint with the police - also online via Internet Watch,
- report the store to the consumer advice center (e.g. via www.verbraucherzentrale.de),
- report the advertising on TikTok as "fraud" so that it can be removed.
Why is this important?
Platforms such as TikTok, which are mainly used by young people, are increasingly being used to advertise dubious offers. The wide reach makes it easy for scammers to quickly attract attention. The fact that such advertising is being displayed at all shows how important education and digital media literacy are. Clear rules are needed, but also vigilant behavior on the part of users.
