Top 3 Shein Scams to Know

Are you thinking about stepping up your fashion game with Shein but unsure if it’s a legitimate retailer? We get it – online shopping comes with its fair share of risks and Shein scams. And for good reason. 

What is Shein?

Shein is an online fashion giant has been making plenty of waves around the world recently, raising questions about its legitimacy and trustworthiness as an e-commerce platform. Well, fear not – we are here to investigate: “Is Shein safe?” and determine if it is a reliable marketplace for your shopping needs. With our definitive guide on all things Shein, you can rest assured that your privacy will be protected and avoid Shein scams!

3 Shein Scams to Avoid

• Shein Brand Collaboration Offer: Influencers and content creators have fallen victim to fake collaboration offers, promising 10 free items a month in exchange for promotion. But here’s the catch: they had to pay a delivery fee. Little did they know these scammers were after their hard-earned money, draining their accounts, and stealing their personal information

• $750 Shein Gift Card Scam: Recently, Shein shoppers came across a $750 gift card offer that has been circulating through social media channels. While some users claimed it was legit, they did state that it was a time-consuming process of jumping through hoops, playing games, and a heavy verification process. This verification process involved sharing your email address and a photo of your ID documents. This is grounds for a possible phishing scam, the risk may not outweigh the reward.

• Instagram Shein Scam: Counterfeit items are being sold on Instagram and ripping off consumers. Additionally, fake gift cards are being used to lure users to share their bank details on Instagram.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is Shein legit?

It is generally considered a legitimate company. However, like many online marketplaces, there have been mixed reviews and experiences from customers. SHEIN has received 3.7/5 stars with 126,867 reviews on Trustpilot. Based on the amount of reviews alone, the retailer’s legitimacy remains in good standing. 

• Does Shein have a secure payment method?

Shein has a trustworthy payment system similar to sites like Amazon, eBay, and others. 

• Is my data secure with Shein?

In June 2018, online fashion retailer SHEIN suffered a data breach. The company discovered the breach 2 months later in August, then disclosed the incident another month after that. A total of 39 million unique email addresses were found in the breach alongside MD5 password hashes. The data was provided to HIBP by a source who requested it be attributed to “[email protected].” Since then, Shein has strengthened their data security and included an option to opt out of third-party data sharing. 

• Why is Shein so cheap?

Shein’s low prices are due to their cost-cutting approach of paying their seamstresses and factory workers less than other brands, which has raised concerns over worker exploitation.

• Is it Shein safe?

Concerns about product quality, sizing inconsistencies, labor practices, and environmental impact may lead some customers to seek alternatives to Shein, such as ethical fashion retailers and quality-focused online stores. However, most transactions result in satisfied customers.  Ultimately, the decision to shop with Shein comes down to your personal values and priorities. 

Categorised in: Finance, Online Privacy

This post was written by Adrian Yang