Shopping on AliExpress offers incredible deals, but staying alert for potential scams is essential. Buyers often face challenges ranging from fake tracking numbers to misleading refund requests. Below are the most common types of fraud and practical solutions to protect yourself.
1. PayPal Scam
A seller contacts you after you place an order and suggests paying via PayPal instead of the AliExpress system. While this might sound convenient, it bypasses platform protections.
Why it is a scam: Once you pay off-platform, you lose access to AliExpress dispute services. If the seller sends the wrong item or nothing at all, you have no recourse.
How to protect yourself:
- Use only the official AliExpress payment system;
- If a seller insists on PayPal, decline and report them immediately.
2. Extra Fees Scam
The seller messages you claiming they cannot ship the item unless you pay an extra fee for "customs" or "shipping upgrades" that were not mentioned at checkout.
Why it is a scam: This violates AliExpress policies. Sellers use this to extract more money without guaranteeing delivery.
How to protect yourself:
- Refuse to pay any extra charges. The total amount at checkout is final;
- Report the seller to customer support.
3. Fake Tracking Numbers
You receive a tracking number, but it either doesn't work, shows no movement, or tracks to a completely different city.
Why it is a scam: The seller provides a fake or recycled number to buy time. They hope the buyer protection period expires before you notice.
How to protect yourself:
- Monitor the tracking history on our site to verify the destination country;
- Check package weight (a laptop shouldn't weigh 50 grams);
- Compare the dispatch date with your purchase date.
4. Cancel Order Scam
The seller asks you to cancel the order, claiming "out of stock" or "system error." They might ask you to choose "Buyer changed mind" as the reason.
Why it is a scam: If you cancel for a "buyer reason," the seller avoids penalties. If you cancel after they marked it as "shipped," you might lose your refund rights.
How to protect yourself:
- Do not cancel at the seller's request. Let the system auto-cancel if they fail to ship;
- If marked as shipped, wait until the delivery deadline and open a non-delivery dispute.
5. The $0.01 Resend Scam
If your item is missing, the seller offers to resend it but asks you to pay $0.01 for a "new order" to generate a tracking number.
Why it is a scam: This closes the dispute on your expensive original order. If the new $0.01 item does not arrive, you can only refund 1 cent.
How to protect yourself:
- Decline new orders. Insist on a refund or reshipment within the original dispute;
- Let AliExpress step in if the seller refuses.
6. Triangulation Fraud (Other Stores)
You order on AliExpress, but the package arrives in Amazon or Walmart packaging.
Why it is a scam: The seller used a stolen credit card to buy the item from another store and ship it to you. If the card owner initiates a chargeback, you may be investigated for fraud.
How to protect yourself:
- Notify the store (Amazon/Walmart) that you did not purchase the item directly;
- Keep records of your AliExpress transaction as proof of purchase.
7. The "Gift" Scam
You receive a cheap trinket (like a hair tie) instead of your expensive order, with a note saying it's a "free gift" while the real item is coming.
Why it is a scam: The tracking shows "Delivered." The seller hopes you wait for the "real" item until the dispute window closes.
How to protect yourself:
- Open a dispute for "Item Not as Described" immediately;
- Always record a video when opening packages as proof.
8. "Close the Dispute" Scam
The seller begs you to close the dispute, promising to refund you via PayPal or resend the item afterwards.
Why it is a scam: Once you close a dispute, you often cannot reopen it. The seller will stop responding, and you will lose your money.
How to protect yourself:
- Never close a dispute until the refund is in your bank account;
- Ignore promises of "later" solutions. AliExpress handles refunds securely through the dispute process.
New schemes appear constantly. Always check seller reviews, avoid deals that seem too good to be true, and never handle communication or payments outside the AliExpress platform.
