By the FlowUP team, gaming PC builder in Genappe (Belgium) · Updated 30 September 2026
In short: during the big promotion periods, scams are exploding—fake websites that copy real shops, “blocked account” SMS messages, and prices that are too good to be true. To buy high-tech online safely, check the site address, the legal notices and terms of sale, pay by card with strong customer authentication, and never click on a link received by SMS or email. Not sure? Report it at cybermalveillance.gouv.fr in France or at suspicious (at) safeonweb.be in Belgium.
The most common scams
Scammers take advantage of times when everyone is looking for a bargain. The three main classics: the fake online store, which copies the name or design of a real shop with heavily discounted prices; the phishing SMS or email, claiming a parcel is blocked or your account is suspended to get you to hand over your bank details; and the fake private listing, where a seller demands payment outside the platform.
The instinct to keep: if you have doubts, never go through the link you received. Type the shop’s address yourself into your browser, or contact it using the details listed on its website.
A scare SMS during sales? First instinct: don’t click.
Checks to make before you buy
| To check | Good sign | Warning sign |
|---|---|---|
| The website address | Exact spelling, with no extra letters and no exotic extension | The HTTPS padlock alone proves nothing: fake sites have it too |
| Legal notice | A company name, an address, and a verifiable company number | No legal notice: move on |
| Terms of sale | Delivery, returns, 14-day right of withdrawal, legal warranty of 2 years | Vague or missing terms |
| The price | Comparable to usual market prices | A huge discount on a rare or highly in-demand product |
| Payment | Bank card with strong customer authentication (3D Secure) or a well-known secure payment method | Bank transfer to a private person, gift cards, cryptocurrencies |
What is a real promotion?
In the European Union, since 2022, a seller who advertises a discount must show it compared with the lowest price they have charged in the 30 days before. So a “-50%” calculated from a price inflated the day before is therefore not allowed. For more on sales periods, read our guide to PC gamer sales and our article to find a real bargain on Black Friday.
Have you received a suspicious message?
- Don’t click on the link and don’t reply.
- In France: forward unwanted SMS messages to 33 700 and find help at cybermalveillance.gouv.fr.
- In Belgium: forward the suspicious emails to suspicious (at) safeonweb.be.
- If you have paid: contact your bank immediately to request a chargeback/block.
Our assembler’s opinion: for a purchase like a gaming PC, take the time to check the seller. On flowup.shop, our general terms of sale are accessible from every product page, with the legal 2-year warranty, the 14-day right of withdrawal and payment in 2, 3, 4, 10 or 12 instalments. If you have doubts about a message sent in our name, contact our customer service directly from the website.
Our gaming PCs
PC Rift: RX 9060 XT 16 GB
Ryzen 5 7500F or 7500X3D, RX 9060 XT 16 GB and DDR5: assembled and tested in Genappe.
PC Cheetoh: RTX 5070
RTX 5070, Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Arctic 360 mm water cooling: 1440p in ultra settings.
FAQ: buy online without getting scammed
How can I tell if a shop website is reliable?
Check the exact website address, the presence of legal notices with a company name and an address, clear terms of sale, and secure payment methods. An unusually low price is a warning sign.
Does the HTTPS padlock guarantee that a site is safe?
No. It only guarantees that the connection is encrypted. Fake sites also use HTTPS.
What should I do if I receive an SMS about a “blocked account”?
Don’t click. In France, forward it to 33 700. In Belgium, report suspicious messages via Safeonweb.
How can I recognise a real discount?
In the EU, the discount must be calculated based on the lowest price used by the seller in the 30 days before.
What should I do if I paid a fake website?
Contact your bank immediately to request a chargeback/block and try to get a refund, then report the scam to the authorities in your country.
