How do you know if a website is fraudulent?

How to safely purchase PETZL products online

Are you unsure about a website selling Petzl products? Here are a few best practices to help you successfully navigate making online purchases.

How do you know if a website is fraudulent?

Here are some signs that indicate that a website, ad, or publication may be fraudulent:

• If the price is too low to be true
  When shopping for products online, you may see differences in price from seller to seller. However, when a seller's price is considerably lower than the other, this is a red flag.
• If the content is low-quality
  These signs can help you spot a fraudulent site: inconsistent product names, product descriptions with vague or incorrect language and spelling mistakes, poor website design that is not user-friendly. Anything that doesn't seem to align with the Petzl brand should catch your attention.
• Verify the source
  Look at the "About" or "Who We Are" pages to get more information about the business or organization. If this information seems suspicious, go one step further and look for details like the physical address, phone number, the company's history, or even the legal disclaimers or General Terms and Conditions of Sale.
• Find reviews about the seller
  Reading reviews about customer experiences with this seller (on websites that are not the seller’s website) can help you understand whether or not it is credible and reliable. It’s always better to err on the side of caution!

How do you know if a website seems suspicious?

Here are a few real examples from a fraudulent site:

• the prices are too low to be true, with prices listed up to 70% off the normal retail price;
• the product names are wrong. The VOLTA® 9.2 mm rope is listed as the Petzl Top Sellers 9.2mm Volta Guide Dry Rope — this does not match the product name on Petzl’s official website and is therefore suspicious;
• the “About Us” page states that the company was “created through a shared passion for fashion, design, art, and music.” This is suspicious because it is not related to climbing or the outdoors;
• the address listed on their “Contact Us” page is incorrect and is the address of a Target store in Illinois

Example of a fraudulent website, with very low prices.

What is a secure way to purchase Petzl products?

Petzl products are exclusively sold through our network of official distributors and authorized dealers. Our products are sold new and come with a technical notice. By purchasing your products through this network, you are guaranteed to buy an original Petzl product. To see the list of distributors and retailers in your country, visit www.petzl.com/dealers.

If you're in the US, you can order products directly from our website at www.petzl.com.

How can I report my concerns about a site's reliability or if I've been targeted by a fraudulent site?

Please fill out the form on our Contact page.