AliExpress scam exposed & How parents protect minors

Increasing cases of AliExpress scams have frustrated many consumers. With these risks being even greater for minors who unknowingly become victims of fraudulent sellers.

Scammers on AliExpress will often target young inexperienced buyers who do not have the skills to identify deceptive listings. Using enticingly low prices and too good to be true deals.

This article will therefore reveal the hidden dangers of shopping on AliExpress. While also offering parents essential tips on how to protect children from online fraud.

What is AliExpress?

AliExpress is an online retail marketplace owned by the Alibaba Group, a Chinese multinational technology company. It was launched in 2010 as a platform that connects manufacturers and distributors mainly from China to consumers around the world.

AliExpress does not sell products directly like Amazon does. There are thousands of third party sellers on it selling everything from electronics to clothing to home goods and beauty products. What makes this platform famous is its competitively cheap prices, large range of products, and direct-from-manufacturer manner of purchasing.

Are there any age restrictions for shopping on AliExpress?

There are no strict age restrictions for browsing or purchasing on AliExpress itself — minors can, technically, place orders. Its Privacy Policy says the platform doesn’t knowingly collect data from users under 18, which implies that it is not a children’s platform.

However, there is no formal age verification at checkout. Anyone with access to a payment method, be it a parent’s credit card or electronic funds, can purchase.

How does AliExpress work?

AliExpress is basically a streamlined e-commerce ecosystem connecting buyers and sellers across borders. Shoppers can sign up for a free account, browse millions of products grouped by categories ranging from tech gadgets to home goods and buy straight from the sellers. AliExpress processes payments and holds funds in escrow until delivery is confirmed. And so there is some buyer protection from AliExpress scams. Items are shipped by sellers often from China, with shipping choices from slow free shipping to faster more expensive options like DHL shipping.

Although the platform is quite affordable and offers a lot of variety. Research of seller ratings and reviews is necessary to avoid pitfalls such as counterfeit goods or even non-delivery.

Is AliExpress a scam?

AliExpress is not a scam, it is a legitimate online marketplace owned by Alibaba Group that links buyers to sellers worldwide.

However being an open marketplace, dishonest sellers sometimes take advantage of the platform and fraud cases occur. As a result, some shoppers end up being duped into believing that AliExpress itself is a scam. The platform does actually enforce seller policies in reality, but buyers still have to be careful with their purchases.

How safe is AliExpress?

AliExpress takes many safety measures to protect its users. SSL encryption, for example, is used to secure transaction and sensitive information such as credit card details on the platform.

AliExpress also offers an escrow service. Whereby payments are held until the buyers confirm that they have received their orders as described.

In addition, to further protect the buyers, AliExpress offers.

• Buyer protection policy. It covers refunds for undelivered, or significantly different items.

• Dispute resolution system. It allows buyers to raise disputes and claim refunds.

• Verified seller badges. Helps identify reputable sellers.

While, AliExpress does have these security measures in place. Scams are still possible, especially for minors who may not identify red flags.

Parents should teach their children what is safe in terms of online shopping and monitor the purchases to minimize potential risks.

5 AliExpress scams to pay close attention to

AliExpress has a great deal of products and competitive prices, but this platform is not immune to fraudulent activities. It is important to know how to protect yourself from these common scams and stay away from them.

Here are the five most common AliExpress seller scams described. And some actionable steps to take to avoid being scammed while shopping at AliExpress.

1. Fake listings and counterfeit items

There are also some sellers who will list fake listings with stolen images, or will offer counterfeit products that appear to be real. Scams involving branded goods, electronics and fashion items are particularly common. The buyer may end up getting poor quality knock offs, or nothing at all.

How to Avoid It

• Before you purchase, always check ratings and reviews of the seller.

• Check for the ‘Verified Seller’ badge for credibility.

• Check the product images with the official brand websites for inconsistencies.

2. Phishing scams and fake messages

A phishing scam is one in which a fraudster impersonates AliExpress through email or message, asking for sensitive info or payment details. Accessing these links may result in your identity being stolen or you being a victim of financial fraud.

How to Avoid It

• Never make payments outside AliExpress platform.

• Within AliExpress, check the sender’s profile to verify messages.

• Enforce 2FA for additional security.

3. Non-delivery or partial delivery

Many buyers end up being scammed by AliExpress sellers who mark items as shipped, but never deliver or send incomplete products. This means scammers will be able to take the money and leave customers with nowhere to turn. If they fail to raise a complaint within the dispute window.

How to Avoid It

• If orders are not received, immediately track shipments and open disputes.

• Use the Buyer Protection period well and ask for a full refund if needed.

• Stay away from sellers who have a record of delivery complaints.

4. Refund and overpayment scams

Some scammers ask for additional payments as “customs fees” and won’t refund unless the buyer returns the item at their own expense. In some extreme cases, they may also ask for the bank account details to process a refund which can cause financial theft.

How to Avoid It

• Never send more money than what is requested by the checkout process.

• Instead of direct bank transfer, use AliExpress’s official refund system.

• Escalate the dispute through AliExpress support if a refund is unfairly denied.

5. Product quality deception

Descriptions and images used by sellers may exaggerate the quality of product, with buyers receiving poorly made or defective items. This is a ploy commonly employed by an AliExpress scammer to entice unsuspecting shoppers with false advertising.

How to Avoid It

• Check multiple reviews, especially the ones with customer uploaded photos.

• Go for sellers with high ratings and long track records on the platform.

• You should be wary of deals that sound too good to be true; quality products have realistic pricing.

What to do if you get scammed on AliExpress?

If you think that you have been scammed by an AliExpress seller. Promptly take action to shield yourself from further loss and possibly retrieve your money. Here’s what you should do.

• Document everything. Screenshot the product listing, seller info, all communications, tracking info, and what you actually got (if anything).

• Contact the seller first. Buyers are required to attempt communication with the seller before filing a dispute on AliExpress. First, send a concise message of the problem and ask them to resolve it.

• Open a dispute through AliExpress. In case the sellers do not respond, go to your order details and file a dispute. By filing this formal complaint, you can present your evidence and demand a refund.

• Escalate if necessary. If the seller does not resolve your dispute or offers an unsatisfactory solution, escalate the case to AliExpress. The evidence will be reviewed and a final decision will be made by the platform.

Keep in mind that the AliExpress Buyer Protection generally spans between 15 and 90 days. So do not procrastinate and take immediate action.

How to report a scam on AliExpress?

To keep the AliExpress shopping environment safe, reporting any fraudulent sellers or scams is very important. Here’s how you can do it.

Step 1. Go to your AliExpress account and choose the order you want to report.

Step 2. Under your order details, click on ‘Open Dispute’. Provide all required information and describe your issue with supporting evidence.

Step 3. If you think the seller is engaging in more than the fraudulent transaction against you, select Report Seller to report them directly within the dispute process.

Step 4. Provide specific details for why you are reporting the seller, for instance fake listing or non delivery issue. Back up your claim with any relevant evidence.

Step 5. Note the confirmation number and submit the report. Wait for updates in your email or account.

By following these steps, you can tackle any problems caused by an AliExpress scam and help make the platform safer for everyone.

How to avoid frauds on AliExpress？

In order to not fall prey to scams on AliExpress, you need to adopt practical strategies and remain vigilant throughout your shopping.

Here are some actionable tips to avoid falling into the traps of fraud.

• Research the seller. Before purchasing, check the seller out. Usually, the more trustworthy sellers are the ones with a long standing positive reputation.

• Stay in-platform. All transactions and communications must be done through the AliExpress platform. This guarantees that your payment information is safe and buyer protected.

• Beware of deals that are way too good to be true: Low prices, much lower than the usual market price, could indicate either fake or poor-quality products.

• Check user reviews. Be careful to read the reviews from previous buyers. Seek for detailed feedback including photos of the received items.

How to recognize an AliExpress scam?

Here’s actionable advice to sniff out AliExpress scam and avoid being scammed.

• Unrealistic prices. A “brand-new iPhone” for $20? That’s a neon sign of an AliExpress seller scam. Legit discounts don’t defy reality.

• Vague or stolen listings. Descriptions filled with typos, missing specs or stock photos lifted from Google are a sure sign of scam. Legit sellers show clear, original details.

• Suspicious seller stats. A new account with zero feedback or a bunch of generic 5 star reviews indicates an AliExpress scam. Seek out consistent buyer input that is detailed.

• Pressure tactics. An AliExpress scammer will send messages like “Buy now or miss out!” or urgent refund demands outside of AliExpress’s system.

Stay curious and cautious. When you question everything, you will be able to see when you have fallen victim to AliExpress scam before it’s too late.

How parents should guide minors shop online safely?

The AliExpress scams and other frauds are a cautionary tale not just for more experienced adults but curious kids as well.

Parents have to play an active role in educating and monitoring kids to enable minors to make smart decisions when shopping.

How parents safeguard minors from AliExpress scams?

Given the unregulated seller base that AliExpress possesses, protecting minors from AliExpress scams requires specific, hands on strategies.

• Monitor purchases. Make sure to regularly review your child’s AliExpress account or shared family account to see if their purchasing is from suspicious sellers.

• Use secure payment methods. Link AliExpress to a secure payment method and limit spending to prevent unauthorized transactions.

• Teach scam awareness. Teach minors how to recognize the common AliExpress scams, such as the fake listings and phishing attempts.

• Set up parental controls. Put in place parental controls on your child’s devices to prevent them from visiting nasty sites or fall for a scammer on AliExpress.

If you also want to supercharge your efforts at safeguarding your children while using AliExpress. Parental control apps like FlashGet Kids can also come in handy!

Along with protecting children who shop online, FlashGet Kids comes with features especially fashioned for supervising kids’ AliExpress activities.

• Screen mirroring. Enables parents to see their child’s browsing activity in real time. So that they can supervise shopping sessions without having to watch over them physically.

• Browser safety filters. It allows for parent-generated website whitelists and blacklists that can restrict access to certain shopping platforms.

• Alerts. Immediately notifies you when your children make purchases or tries to enter credit card information.

• Usage reports. It gives detailed summaries of browsing history, amount of time spent on shopping sites, and the attempts made to transact.

Using these strategies alongside tools such as FlashGet Kids, parents can limit the risk of AliExpress scams that children experience while shopping.

Wrap up

When it comes to shopping online, in particular on AliExpress, one must be vigilant and take proactive action if necessary.

AliExpress scams are very common, which brings to light the importance of parental supervision and education to make sure minors are shopping safely.

Parents, through built-in safety features and FlashGet Kids tool. They can monitor the online activities of their children, set the right boundaries, and enable their children to make informed purchases.

FAQs