Fake Stores on Shopify and Wix: Reporting Routes

Someone has built a store using your brand name, your product photos, and your logo. It looks convincing. It is taking your customers' money and delivering nothing, or worse, delivering counterfeits.

Shopify and Wix both have formal reporting routes for exactly this situation. They only work if you use the right one, submit the right evidence, and understand what each platform will and will not act on. This guide covers all of it: how to confirm which platform a fake store runs on, which form to use, what evidence to include, and what to do when the store migrates.

Before you start: Screenshots, full page-level URLs, and proof of what your brand owns are the foundation of every report on this list. Collect these before you open any form.

How to Identify Which Platform the Fake Store Is Using

You cannot file a platform report without knowing which platform you are actually dealing with. A store can look entirely custom while still running on Shopify or Wix underneath.

Check the page source

Right-click the fake store and select "View Page Source." Search for the following:

• Shopify: Look for references to “cdn.shopify.com” or “myshopify.com” in the source code. Many Shopify stores also retain a “*.myshopify.com” subdomain even when they use a custom domain.
• Wix: Look for “static.wixstatic.com” or “wix.com” in the source. Wix sites frequently load assets from Wix's own CDN, which makes them straightforward to identify.

Use a WHOIS or hosting lookup

Tools such as who.is let you look up the domain registrar and nameservers. If the nameservers point to “ns1.wixdns.net” or similar, the site is almost certainly on Wix. Shopify stores often show nameservers from Shopify's infrastructure.

Check the checkout URL

When you add a product to the cart and proceed to checkout, Shopify stores typically redirect to a URL containing “myshopify.com” or “checkout.shopify.com”. This is one of the clearest identifiers available.

Once you have confirmed the platform, you can move directly to the correct reporting route. Filing with the wrong platform wastes time and keeps the store live.

Reporting a Fake Store on Shopify

Shopify has three separate reporting routes, and using the wrong one is a common reason reports get rejected. The violation type determines which form you need.

Route 1: Copyright infringement (DMCA)

Use this route when the fake store has copied your original content: product photography, written descriptions, brand imagery, or any other material you own the copyright to. Shopify's Report a Merchant form handles these cases, select the copyright infringement option when prompted.

Your notice must include:

• Your legal name and contact details
• Identification of the original copyrighted work
• The specific URLs on the fake store where the infringing content appears (a general store link is not accepted; Shopify requires page-level URLs)
• A good faith statement that the use is not authorised
• A statement under penalty of perjury confirming you are the rights owner or authorised agent
• Your physical or electronic signature

Route 2: Trademark or trade dress infringement

Use this route when the store is using your registered trademark, brand name, or logo without authorisation. Shopify's trademark and trade dress infringement form handles these cases.

In addition to contact details and page-level URLs, you will need to provide:

• Your trademark registration number and the countries it is registered in
• The category of goods or services covered by the registration
• A description of how the content infringes your trademark

Important: Shopify requires individual page URLs, not just the homepage. If the fake store has cloned your entire product catalogue, you need to document each infringing page separately.

Route 3: Report a merchant (fraud and policy violations)

If the store is committing fraud, phishing, or violating Shopify's Acceptable Use Policy in ways that are not strictly IP claims, use Shopify's general merchant reporting route. This covers situations where the store is harvesting payment details, impersonating your brand to deceive customers, or operating in a way that violates Shopify's terms of service.

Sending a fraud complaint through the DMCA form will result in rejection, so make sure the route matches the violation.

Reporting a Fake Store on Wix

Wix operates a centralised abuse reporting hub at wix.com/abuse, which covers four categories: phishing or spam, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and general abuse. Select the category that matches your situation before filling in any details.

Copyright infringement on Wix

Wix processes copyright complaints under the DMCA. Their automated DMCA Copyright Complaint Form is the recommended route and the fastest way to submit. A valid notice must include:

• A physical or electronic signature of a person authorised to act on behalf of the rights owner
• Clear identification of the copyrighted work being infringed
• The specific location of the infringing material on the Wix site (URL level)
• Your contact information, including a physical address
• A good faith statement that the use is not authorised by the copyright owner, their agent, or the law
• A statement under penalty of perjury that you are authorised to act on behalf of the rights owner

Wix states that notices not complying with these requirements will not be processed.

Trademark infringement on Wix

For trademark complaints, use the dedicated trademark infringement option within the wix.com/abuse portal. Wix states that it investigates all reports and aims to respond within three business days, though processing time can vary.

General abuse on Wix

If the fake store is committing fraud or violating Wix's Terms of Use in ways beyond copyright or trademark, use the General Abuse form within the same portal. Wix notes that it does not guarantee action on general abuse reports and acts at its sole discretion after verifying the information provided.

Evidence to Collect Before You File

Both platforms will reject an incomplete notice. Gathering evidence before you open a form saves time and increases the chance of a first-submission success.

Collect all of the following before you begin:

• Full-page screenshots of the fake store, including the URL bar visible in the browser
• Individual URLs for every page that contains infringing content (homepage, product pages, about page, checkout)
• Screenshots of your own original content showing it predates the fake store (publication dates, upload timestamps, original file metadata)
• Your trademark registration certificate or number, including the jurisdiction
• Any evidence linking the fake store to a specific operator (domain registration data, contact details displayed on the site, payment processor logos)
• Records of customer complaints or reports that reference the fake store

One practical note: do not just screenshot the homepage. Shopify specifically states that a general shop link will not be accepted, and Wix requires the location of the infringing material. Page-level URLs are non-negotiable for both platforms.

If the store is using your product photography, check your original files for EXIF metadata. That timestamp data can serve as proof of prior creation when you need to demonstrate ownership.

What to Do If the Store Moves

Fake stores frequently migrate. An operator who receives a takedown notice on Shopify may rebuild on Wix within days, or move to a different host entirely. A single report is rarely the end of the problem.

When a store moves, treat it as a new enforcement case: re-identify the platform, collect fresh evidence with new URLs, and file through the correct form again. At the same time, escalate beyond platform reporting:

• Report the domain to the registrar. The registrar can suspend a custom domain independently of the hosting platform. WHOIS data identifies who that is.
• Submit a de-indexing request to Google. Removing the store from search results cuts off most of its traffic even if the site stays live.
• Document the migration pattern. A consistent record of the operator's activity supports escalation to payment processors and strengthens any future legal action.

For a broader look at identifying these stores before they cause damage, our post on how to find clone websites copying your online store is a useful starting point.

This is where Remove.tech takes the pressure off. Its platform tracks fake stores across Shopify, Wix, and standalone hosting around the clock, files reports through the correct route for each platform, and follows operators when they migrate. A free brand audit shows which fake stores are using your brand right now.

FAQ

How long does it take Shopify or Wix to act on a report?

Shopify does not publish a fixed timeline. Wix states it aims to respond within three business days, though complex cases can take longer. Submitting a complete, well-evidenced notice is the single biggest factor in reducing delays.

What if I do not have a registered trademark?

You can still file a copyright complaint if the fake store has copied your original content. Trademark registration strengthens a trademark notice, but copyright protection applies automatically to original creative work from the moment of creation.

What if platform reporting does not work?

If the store ignores or survives a platform report, the next steps are registrar complaints, Google de-indexing requests, and in persistent cases, legal action. Remove.tech's brand protection service monitors for fake websites and fake domains continuously, handling enforcement across platforms so brands are not left tracking each new iteration manually.

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