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[CRIME] · Germany · 13 sources

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Germany sees surge in fake air‑conditioner online shops

After a heatwave at the end of June, demand for mobile air‑conditioners in Germany rose sharply. Fraudulent online retailers have taken advantage of the shortage, advertising cheap "revolutionary" units for 70‑140 €, often claiming rapid cooling and low power use. In reality, most of the products are ordinary fans that provide little to no cooling. Consumer‑protection portal Watchlist Internet warns shoppers to watch for exaggerated claims, fabricated media reports, AI‑generated videos and fake quality seals. Victims are advised to request a credit‑card chargeback or use payment‑service buyer protection when the delivered item does not match the description.

Entities

German consumers · Watchlist Internet · online fake air‑conditioner shops

Claims

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