Fake Milano Cortina 2026 Websites Used in Widespread Discount Scam, Researchers Warn

Published: 18 Feb 2026

Milan – Cybersecurity researchers are warning shoppers to be on high alert after uncovering a coordinated online scam using fake websites that closely mimic the official online store of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The operation, identified by researchers at Bitdefender, targets consumers in Europe and the United States with ads promising steep discounts on Olympic merchandise that appear legitimate at first glance.

How the Scam Works

According to Bitdefender, the fraudulent campaign relies heavily on paid advertisements circulated through social media platforms, including Meta’s services. These ads promote discounts of up to 80 percent on what is claimed to be official Olympics merchandise.

Users who click on the ads are redirected to lookalike websites designed to resemble the authentic Milano Cortina store. Once there, shoppers are encouraged to complete purchases, unknowingly handing over sensitive personal and financial information.

Victims face multiple risks, including:

unauthorized use of payment card details
exposure of personal contact information
delivery of counterfeit goods or no goods at all

In some cases, attackers also attempt to collect account login credentials.

Highly Convincing Copies

Researchers say the fake sites are difficult to distinguish from the real thing. They often replicate official branding elements, product images, layouts, and merchandise collections associated with the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

Many of the fraudulent domains were registered within days of each other and promoted through newly created social media pages. This pattern suggests a coordinated network that can quickly replace shut-down sites to stay ahead of detection.

In several cases, the sites vanished shortly after processing payments, leaving victims without refunds or recourse.

Organizers and Platforms Respond

The Milano Cortina 2026 organizing committee said it is aware of unauthorized websites misusing the Games’ branding and is reporting them to relevant authorities as they are discovered.

Bitdefender noted that extreme discounts are one of the clearest warning signs. While the official store may offer modest promotions, such as small signup savings, claims of massive price cuts are typically used to lure unsuspecting buyers.

The cybersecurity firm advised consumers to:

Verify website domain names carefully
Check how recently a site was registered
Be cautious of newly created social media pages
avoid offers that seem unusually generous

Risk Expected to Grow Closer to the Games

As excitement builds ahead of the Winter Olympics, researchers warn that the scale of the scam could expand. The sophistication of the operation means thousands of shoppers may be exposed as criminals attempt to capitalize on the rising demand for Games-related merchandise.

Cybersecurity experts say consumers should stick to verified official channels when purchasing Olympic products and remain skeptical of deals that appear too good to be true.