Buying products online has become part of everyday life in Australia.
However, when shopping for regulated products, customers need to pay particular attention to who they are buying from, whether the seller is legitimate and whether the product can legally be supplied in Australia.
This is especially important for vaping products.
Australia has strict regulations around vaping products, and the legal supply framework is different from ordinary online retail. The TGA states that therapeutic vapes can only be supplied through pharmacy settings under the applicable conditions, while non-pharmacy retailers such as vape shops, tobacconists and convenience stores cannot legally supply them.
At the same time, online shopping scams remain a significant problem.
Scammers can create websites that look remarkably similar to genuine businesses, copy logos and product images, publish fake reviews and offer unusually low prices to make customers place an order quickly.
So before entering your payment details, it is worth asking:
Is this website real, and am I actually dealing with the business I think I am dealing with?
This should be the first step, not the last.
A professional-looking website does not automatically mean that the seller is legally authorised to supply vaping products.
The TGA states that, under Australia's current vaping framework, vapes can only be lawfully supplied through pharmacy settings for therapeutic purposes and subject to the applicable requirements. Non-pharmacy retailers are not permitted to supply vapes.
Therefore, consumers should not assume that a website is legitimate simply because:
Legal status should always come before price or product selection.
A legitimate online business should provide clear information about who operates the website.
Look for:
Scamwatch specifically recommends checking whether a website provides details such as an ABN, privacy policy, terms and conditions, dispute-resolution information and contact details.
If you cannot determine who is actually operating the website, that should be treated as a warning sign.
A scam website can look almost identical to a genuine website.
One of the easiest things to check is the domain name.
For example, scammers may create domains that:
Scamwatch recommends checking the URL carefully and warns that fake websites can imitate legitimate businesses.
Don't assume that the first Google result is automatically the official website.
One of the most useful ways to investigate an unfamiliar website is to search outside the website itself.
Try searches such as:
[Website Name] review
[Website Name] scam
[Website Name] complaints
[Website Name] Australia
This is important because reviews displayed directly on a website may not always provide an independent picture.
Scamwatch recommends checking independent reviews rather than relying exclusively on reviews published by the website itself.
A very cheap price can look attractive, but it can also be one of the biggest warning signs.
For example, if a product is consistently sold around one price across multiple legitimate-looking sources but one website offers it for dramatically less, stop and investigate before paying.
Scamwatch identifies unusually low prices as a common warning sign of online shopping scams.
Ask:
Why is this website able to sell it so much cheaper?
A discount can be genuine.
But an unrealistic discount combined with other warning signs should make you cautious.
The payment page can reveal a lot about a website.
Be particularly cautious if a seller insists on:
Scamwatch specifically lists unusual payment methods and requests to send money to multiple accounts or PayIDs as warning signs.
Before paying, check:
Who am I actually paying?
If the business name shown during payment does not match the company you believe you are buying from, stop and investigate.
This is one of the most important lessons for online shoppers.
A scam website can have:
Scammers can copy the appearance of genuine stores extremely effectively.
Therefore:
Good design does not equal a legitimate business.
Always investigate the company behind the website.
Even when a seller appears legitimate, consumers should still pay attention to product authenticity.
This is particularly relevant for popular brands such as ALIBARBAR and IGET, where counterfeit products may imitate genuine packaging and product designs.
When possible, check:
If the brand provides an official authentication system, use the brand's own verification method rather than relying solely on photographs.
Reviews can be useful, but they should not be your only source of information.
A website deserves closer investigation if:
Scamwatch specifically warns that fake websites may use fake or overly positive reviews to appear trustworthy.
Before purchasing from an unfamiliar website, use this simple checklist:
Who owns the website?
Look for business information and ABN details where applicable.
Does the URL actually belong to the business?
Look carefully for spelling changes or unusual domains.
Search:
Brand + review
Brand + scam
Brand + complaints
Make sure the payment method is secure and the payee matches the business you expect.
For vaping products specifically, confirm that the seller and supply pathway comply with Australia's current TGA requirements.
Be particularly cautious when several of these signs appear together:
❌ Extremely low prices
❌ No clear business information
❌ No ABN where applicable
❌ No privacy policy
❌ No terms and conditions
❌ No meaningful contact information
❌ Only positive reviews
❌ Newly created-looking social accounts
❌ Pressure to pay immediately
❌ Bank transfer or cryptocurrency only
❌ Multiple PayID accounts
❌ Strange domain name
❌ Poor spelling and inconsistent product information
One warning sign does not automatically prove that a website is a scam.
However, multiple warning signs together should be taken seriously.
Don't continue with the payment.
If you have already paid or provided personal information:
Scamwatch recommends acting quickly when something feels wrong and reporting suspicious websites so authorities can investigate and help protect other consumers.
The safest way to shop online is not simply to find the cheapest price.
Instead, check:
Who is selling it?
Is the seller legally permitted to supply it?
Can I verify the business?
Are there independent reviews?
Does the payment information match the business?
Can I verify the product itself?
For Australian consumers, understanding the legal supply framework is especially important because vaping products are subject to specific national rules.
A genuine-looking website is not necessarily a genuine business.
Take a few extra minutes to investigate before paying. It can make the difference between buying from a legitimate source and losing money to a fake store.
