Tips to Buy Safely on AliExpress and Avoid Frauds or Scams
In today’s digital age, online shopping has become more and more popular, thanks to the convenience and accessibility it provides. One of the most popular and promising marketplaces, AliExpress, has no doubt taken the e-commerce world by storm. However, online shoppers must also be aware of the risks of online fraud, scams or fake products. Therefore, to help you make a safe purchase and avoid any potential fraud or scam on AliExpress, we have provided some tips below.
1. Research and Check the Ratings and Reviews of the Products and Sellers: Product ratings and reviews on AliExpress can help you determine whether the product is genuine and reliable or not. Always scrutinize the details, feedback, and responses on the product listings to ascertain your trustworthiness. Similarly, examine the reviews of the vendors to ascertain if they are reliable, offer fast shipping and high-quality products.
2. Verify the Seller’s Credentials and Seller Ratings: Have a look at the seller’s store rating and review section to know about their feedback history from their previous customers. Make sure that the seller’s profile is complete, and they have a “Verified” badge. Verified sellers have confirmed their identity and are more trustworthy on AliExpress.
3. Check the Return and Refund Policy: Before placing an order, carefully read the seller’s return and refund policy. These policies must offer the right to ask for a full refund or exchange if the product is defective or doesn’t meet the expected standards.
4. Use Secure Payment Methods: When buying on AliExpress, use only secure payment methods like credit or debit cards, PayPal, or AliPay, to avoid exposing your sensitive information to cybercriminals. AliPay, recommended by the sellers, is an escrow service that holds on to the payment until the buyer confirms the receipt of the goods.
5. Don’t Rely on Extremely Low Prices: The old adage “if it’s too good to be true, it probably is” applies here as well. While AliExpress is known for offering products at cheaper rates, some fraudulent sellers may dupe you by selling counterfeit products at extremely low prices. These sellers may try to trick buyers by offering fake discounts or special deals. Therefore, be vigilant and examine the product in detail before you purchase them.
6. Don’t Confirm Receipt of Goods Until You Receive Them: AliExpress encourages buyers to confirm delivery of goods after receiving them. However, if you haven’t received the product, don’t confirm delivery, and raise a dispute before the confirmation deadline (usually within 15-60 days).