Fake UGG Website UK Scam: How to Spot Counterfeit Boot Sites

Fake UGG websites are stealing money and personal data from UK shoppers — here's how to spot them before you buy.

Published 2026-05-10 · Beat the Scam Editorial Team · 7 min read

What is this scam?

Fake UGG websites are fraudulent online stores designed to look like the legitimate UGG Australia website or official UGG retailers. Scammers clone the real site's design, product photos, and branding to create near-perfect replicas. When UK customers place orders, they either receive counterfeit, low-quality boots—or nothing at all. In many cases, victims don't receive goods and their payment and personal details are compromised. The fake sites often use domain names that sound similar to the real UGG website (uggaustralia.co.uk, ugg-boots.co.uk, etc.) and invest in professional-looking design to build false credibility. These scams are particularly effective because UGG boots are popular, expensive items (£150–£300+), making them attractive targets for fraudsters who can pocket significant sums per transaction.

Warning signs to look for

• The domain name is slightly different from the official site — check for extra hyphens, missing letters, or different country extensions (.co.uk vs .com).
• Prices are significantly lower than official retailers (often 40–60% off), especially on current season styles.
• The checkout process feels clunky or suspicious — no secure payment options, only bank transfer or wire payment, or pressure to pay immediately.
• The 'About Us' or 'Contact Us' pages are vague, contain poor grammar, or lack a real company address and phone number.
• The site has no customer reviews, or reviews appear obviously fake with identical wording or zero negative feedback.
• Images are low quality, blurry, or appear to be lifted from other websites without permission.
• The site doesn't display a valid SSL certificate (no padlock icon next to the URL) or security badges look generic and clickable to nowhere.
• Delivery times are unusually slow (weeks or months) and there's no clear returns policy or guarantees.

How this scam works step by step

The scam typically starts when a UK shopper sees an advertisement on social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) or stumbles upon a fake UGG website in Google search results. The ad promises authentic UGG boots at a steep discount (e.g., '50% off everything'). The customer is drawn to the professional-looking website and adds items to their basket. At checkout, they're offered payment by credit card, debit card, PayPal, or bank transfer. If they use a card, the fraudster captures the payment and either ships a counterfeit product or nothing at all. The customer's name, address, email, and payment details are now in the scammer's hands, potentially used for identity theft or sold to other criminals. Some fake sites take the money and delete all contact information, making it impossible to request a refund. Others send substandard boots with incorrect labels, wrong sizes, or materials that fall apart quickly. Victims realise too late that they've been scammed and the website has disappeared or changed its name.

How to verify if it is genuine

First, go directly to the official UGG Australia website (uggaustralia.com or ugg.com) rather than clicking links from adverts or emails. Check the URL carefully — the legitimate UGG site has a proper domain name with no suspicious hyphens or misspellings. Look for HTTPS and a padlock icon in the browser's address bar, which indicates a secure connection. Check for the company's official contact details, including a UK phone number and physical address. Visit our guide on /guides/is-this-website-a-scam/ for a detailed verification checklist. Call UGG customer service directly (using the number from the official website, not the suspect site) to confirm whether the retailer is authorised. Search for the website name on Trustpilot, Google Reviews, or the Better Business Bureau — genuine retailers have real customer feedback. If you're buying from a third-party seller (Selfridges, JD Sports, Schuh), verify their contact details independently before purchasing. Never rely solely on the website's appearance; scammers are skilled at copying design.

What to do if you have already interacted

Stop any further contact with the website immediately. Do not send any additional money or personal information. If you've already made a payment by card or debit card, contact your bank or card provider straight away — explain that you believe you've been scammed and ask them to cancel the payment and dispute the transaction. This process (called a chargeback) usually takes 10 working days but can recover your money if acted on quickly. If you used PayPal, log into your account, go to the Resolution Centre, and report the transaction as fraudulent. Change your password for the email address you used on the fake site, as scammers may try to access other accounts. If you've given them your full details (name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number), check your credit report via Experian or Clearscore to watch for fraudulent accounts opened in your name. Register with the National Fraud Database (Action Fraud) immediately. Do not expect any goods to arrive; do not send follow-up emails or messages to the scammers, as this may confirm your email as active and lead to more targeted fraud.

Reporting this scam in the UK

Report the scam to Action Fraud immediately — call 0300 123 2040 (Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm) or report online at actionfraud.police.uk. Have the website URL, the date of the transaction, the amount paid, and any emails or confirmation pages ready. Forward the fake website's details to the NCSC Suspicious Email Reporting Service at report@phishing.gov.uk so they can work to take the site down. If you received a suspicious email directing you to the fake site, report it to the NCSC as well. Report the fake website directly to UGG Australia through their official website's 'Report Counterfeits' section. Contact your bank's fraud team and ask them to flag the merchant code used by the scammer. If you used social media to find the site, report the advert to the platform (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) for impersonation and fraud. File a complaint with Citizens Advice consumer helpline (0808 223 1133) if you want independent advice on recovery options. Keep all screenshots, emails, payment confirmations, and correspondence — these are vital evidence for your bank's dispute and Action Fraud's investigation.

Frequently asked questions