Rogue traders are selling counterfeit or poorly made clothes online.

As the debs season gets under way, the European Consumer Centre has urged caution after receiving “a number of complaints” about rogue dress sites.

In many cases, websites turned out not to be based in the country in which they were claiming to do business.

Typically they use a domain registered in a European country – to give them legitimacy – but in many cases the businesses were not based at an address in that country. In some cases they were outside the EU entirely.

As a result consumers often face long delays in delivery and if their order does not arrive in time or is not as advertised European consumer rights may not apply to products bought outside the EU.

The centre strongly advises “consumers to thoroughly research a trader when shopping online”, a spokeswoman said. Look for full contact details, she said, “and conduct an internet search for any further information”.

Be wary of designer clothes advertised at vastly reduced prices and pay using a secure method such as a credit card.