Luxury goods at impossible prices, limited drops and resale "holds" are built to bypass judgement.
The scam
Fake boutiques and marketplace sellers advertise the season's sought-after pieces at a steep discount and ask for bank transfer, crypto or a "deposit to hold". The goods never arrive, or a counterfeit does, and the payment cannot be clawed back.
How to stay safe
Pay in ways you can reverse
Use a credit card or a protected payment service. A seller who insists on transfer or crypto has told you what they are.
Buy from the maison or its authorised retailers
Check the brand's own list of stockists and ignore pressure to decide in minutes.