){kind=icon}
Recent Statista data shows that US online shopping continues to surge, with over 85% of consumers having bought something online in the last year alone. While Amazon and Walmart still dominate, AliExpress — part of the Alibaba Group — is growing fast and is predicted to break into the top 10 e-commerce platforms in the US soon.
Naturally, shoppers want to know whether AliExpress is safe and legitimate. The company operates from China, shipping goods globally and connecting millions of buyers with manufacturers at low prices. But when an unfamiliar platform promises bargain deals, scepticism is healthy.
AliExpress is not a scam: it is a real marketplace used all over the world. However, its open seller model means your experience is only as safe as the person you buy from. With thousands of vendors, quality and legitimacy can vary widely, and that’s where scams can occur.
We break down the common AliExpress scams, the red flags to look out for, and what you can do to keep your money and personal data safe.
What is AliExpress and can I trust it?
AliExpress is owned by Alibaba, a global e-commerce and technology group operating in retail, cloud computing, AI, entertainment, and digital payments. The website itself acts as a marketplace where manufacturers and third-party suppliers list products for international buyers.
AliExpress is ranked among the top five most visited e-commerce sites globally, largely because of its extremely low pricing and extensive product range. From electronics to fashion, you can find almost anything — and often much cheaper than US alternatives.
However, low pricing and open seller access come with trade-offs. Products may vary in quality, shipping can be slow, and scammers sometimes slip through seller verification. The platform is legitimate, but online buyers must shop carefully.
Common AliExpress scams
1. Bait-and-switch scams
A listing shows premium earbuds, a tablet, or branded clothing — all for an unbelievable price. After purchase, a cheap imitation arrives instead. Because AliExpress allows sellers to upload product images themselves, some scammers use misleading photos to lure buyers in.
This scam is most common with electronics or branded goods, where the visual difference isn’t obvious until delivery.
Avoiding bait-and-switch scams:
Read product descriptions closely — “toy,” “replica,” or “imitation” are red flags
Compare listing photos with real-world review pictures
Check ratings: 95%+ positive feedback from hundreds of buyers is ideal
AliExpress usually honors refunds, but only when listings were misleading — not if disclaimers were hidden in the fine print.
2. External payment scams
One of the biggest risks on AliExpress isn’t the platform itself, it’s what happens outside of it. Some scammers contact buyers privately through AliExpress chat service after an order is placed, claiming there’s a problem with payment or that a “special discount” or faster shipping can be offered if money is sent another way.
They may say:
“Pay via PayPal so we can ship today instead of next week.”
“We’ll give you 20% off if you cancel and repay using Venmo.”
“AliExpress payment failed — please transfer directly.”
In many cases, they’ll even issue a fake refund through AliExpress to appear credible, creating just enough trust for a buyer to complete the second payment elsewhere. But once money is sent externally, there is no buyer protection, no traceable dispute system, and almost no chance of recovering funds.
How to stay safe
Never pay outside the AliExpress checkout process.
Decline additional or “urgent” shipping fee requests.
Be sceptical of discounts offered only through private transfer.
Report sellers who push off-platform payment immediately.
If the transaction doesn’t happen through AliExpress, you lose the built-in safeguards that protect your purchase — and scammers know this.
3. Fake sellers
Despite verification improvements over recent years, fake storefronts still appear on AliExpress, especially around high-demand items like electronics, designer goods, toys, and seasonal products. These sellers create polished listings, use stock images or AI-generated photography, and price products attractively enough to entice buyers to click quickly without doing their research.
The scam usually plays out in one of three ways:
The item is never shipped at all.
A fake tracking number is generated to show “in transit”.
A small or worthless item is sent instead (sometimes even an empty box) so that the seller can label the order delivered.
The aim is simple: to run accounts for as long as possible, collect fast sales, and disappear before disputes catch up to them. While AliExpress does often refund victims, scammers count on hesitation — knowing many buyers won’t dispute or may miss the dispute window altogether.
How to protect yourself from fake sellers
Look for sellers with long trading history and consistent feedback across many orders
Read customer reviews carefully, prioritizing those with images and detailed descriptions
Be cautious of stores offering many unrelated product categories — it can indicate a copied storefront rather than a real seller
If an order doesn’t arrive, open a dispute promptly to secure protection
Fake sellers rely on speed and impulse buying. A few minutes of checking storefront history can prevent weeks of frustration later.
How to shop safely on AliExpress
AliExpress is home to thousands of genuine sellers, and some of the best prices you’ll find online. But safe shopping means knowing how to spot credibility, avoid pressure tactics, and use the platform’s built-in protection tools effectively. The better prepared you are before you buy, the less likely you are to fall victim to unreliable sellers or scams.
Follow these safety guidelines:
Check seller ratings and store age. Look for a track record, not just a low price. Stores with 95%+ positive feedback, hundreds of orders, and at least one year of activity are generally much safer than new accounts with minimal history.
Read reviews. Customer-submitted images reveal product quality more honestly than polished listing photos. Scan for repeated complaints such as late delivery, wrong item, or poor build quality — these patterns often signal risk.
Use strong passwords and 2FA. If you store card details or regularly shop online, protecting your login matters. A strong, unique password combined with two-factor authentication helps prevent account takeover, even if your email credentials are leaked elsewhere.
Be sceptical of extremely low pricing. Bargains exist, but if a $200 item costs $18, assume risk first — if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Genuine listings tend to cluster around comparable pricing, so if a seller is undercutting the entire market dramatically there’s usually a reason.
Always pay through AliExpress — never externally. Payments made within the platform are protected by escrow and dispute resolution. External transfers such as PayPal, bank transfer and Venmo bypass those safeguards and are very difficult to recover.
Understand buyer protection timeframes. Refund requests must be submitted before protection expires. If a parcel stalls or tracking looks suspicious, don’t wait — open a dispute early so you don’t lose eligibility.
Use scam protection. F‑Secure Total flags malicious links and detects phishing pages across your devices — adding an extra layer of safety even if you miss a warning sign yourself.
Start small if you’re unsure. When trying a new seller, test them with low-value purchases before trusting them with something expensive. A $5 loss is easier to handle than a $300 one.
Compare listings before committing. If multiple stores sell the same product, check which version appears most consistent in reviews, delivery speed, and real-world buyer photos. Scammers rely on rushed decisions — comparison protects you.
Proactively track your orders. Use AliExpress’ built-in tracking and set delivery reminders. If tracking seems fake, loops endlessly, or stops updating, raise a dispute early rather than waiting until it’s too late.
)