Beware of AliExpress Scams: How These Common Pitfalls Can Cripple Your Business

AliExpress has become a popular go-to platform for small businesses, dropshippers, and entrepreneurs looking to source products at affordable prices from China. The appeal is clear — a vast array of products, competitive pricing, and the ability to connect with suppliers across the globe. However, with great opportunity comes great risk. If you're not careful, AliExpress scams could derail your business before it even takes off.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the risks, explore common scams you need to avoid, and offer tips on how you can protect your business when sourcing from China. Let this be your manual for staying vigilant, saving time, and protecting your investments.

Table of Contents

1. What Is AliExpress?

2. Is AliExpress a Safe Platform?

3. Can You Get Scammed on AliExpress?

4. How to Spot AliExpress Scams

5. 10 Common AliExpress Scams You Must Avoid

   • Payment Scams

   • Fake Tracking Numbers

   • Extra Charges After Purchase

   • Counterfeit Compliance Certifications

   • Closing a Dispute Too Soon

   • Incorrect Shipping Methods

   • Re-sending Packages With a New Order

   • PayPal Refund Traps

   • Disappearing Sellers

   • Personal Account Payment Requests

6. How to Stay Safe When Sourcing from AliExpress

7. Protecting Your Business with IntelliChain Corporation

8. Real-Life Case Studies of Businesses Impacted by AliExpress Scams

9. Final Thoughts: Safeguarding Your Business in the World of E-Commerce

What Is AliExpress?

AliExpress, operated by Alibaba Group, is one of the largest online marketplaces in the world, providing direct access to products from manufacturers, primarily in China. While the platform caters mostly to individual consumers, it’s also a favorite among small business owners and dropshippers looking to buy products at wholesale prices.

But just because AliExpress is large and well-known doesn’t mean it’s without risks. Many small business owners have faced setbacks from scams that range from payment fraud to counterfeit goods. Understanding the nature of the platform is essential for protecting your business.

Is AliExpress a Safe Platform?

The safety of using AliExpress boils down to how cautious and informed you are. While AliExpress itself is legitimate, it has certain limitations that scammers can exploit. The platform has put measures in place like a Buyer Protection Program, reviews, and feedback systems to encourage transparency, but these aren’t foolproof. It’s important to remain vigilant and never assume that every transaction will be flawless.

AliExpress’s Buyer Protection program offers a refund if your order doesn't arrive or isn’t as described. But here’s the catch — once you close a dispute, the platform won’t allow you to reopen it. This is why many scams center around pressuring buyers to prematurely close their disputes, leaving them without recourse.

Can You Get Scammed on AliExpress?

Yes, scams on AliExpress are not only possible — they’re relatively common. Thousands of businesses and individuals have fallen prey to fraud, fake tracking numbers, substandard products, and other deceptive tactics. Whether you're a dropshipper, wholesaler, or a small business owner, the risk of losing money is real if you don’t take the necessary precautions.

How to Spot AliExpress Scams

Identifying scams on AliExpress is the first step toward avoiding them. Some warning signs include:

• Suspiciously low prices: If the price seems too good to be true, it likely is. Scam sellers lure buyers with irresistible deals only to send inferior or counterfeit products, or worse, nothing at all.

• Seller communication: If a seller insists on taking conversations off the platform or requests payments through unverified methods, it’s a red flag.

• Limited seller feedback: A lack of reviews or vague product descriptions is often an indicator of a scam.

• Unrealistic shipping times: Watch out for sellers promising unrealistically fast or slow shipping times, as this could indicate a tracking number scam or incorrect shipping methods.

10 Common AliExpress Scams You Must Avoid

1. Payment Scams

This scam involves sellers asking for payment through methods outside AliExpress’s secure system. Fraudsters might request that you send money directly to their personal bank account or use a payment service like PayPal to avoid transaction fees. Once the payment is made outside the platform, you have no buyer protection, making it nearly impossible to recover your money if something goes wrong.

How to Avoid It: Always pay through AliExpress’s official system, which includes built-in security measures to protect your funds. Never send money directly to a seller outside the platform.

2. Fake Tracking Numbers

Scammers often provide false or reused tracking numbers to make it appear as though the product is on its way. In reality, the package either doesn’t exist or was shipped to a completely different location. By the time you realize something is wrong, the scammer has already vanished, leaving you without your product or money.

How to Avoid It: Cross-check the tracking number with the carrier and ensure the delivery address matches your own. If the tracking number shows unusual activity or location mismatches, contact AliExpress immediately.

3. Extra Charges After Purchase

Some sellers will attempt to extort extra money after the purchase, claiming that the shipping costs were higher than anticipated or that customs fees apply. Once you pay the extra amount, the seller may disappear without ever sending the product.

How to Avoid It: Confirm all shipping and handling fees upfront before completing your purchase. Be wary of sellers that request additional charges after the transaction has been processed.

4. Counterfeit Compliance Certifications

Many sellers claim their products meet compliance standards like CE, FDA, or RohS, but these certifications could be entirely fake. Buyers often end up with non-compliant goods that can’t be legally sold in their market or fail quality tests, leading to significant financial losses.

How to Avoid It: Always request verifiable compliance certificates from sellers. Research the standards and logos to ensure authenticity.

5. Closing a Dispute Too Soon

In this scam, the seller asks you to close your dispute in exchange for a new shipment or a refund. Once you close the dispute, however, the seller may disappear, and you will lose your buyer protection. Many buyers fall for this scam, leaving them without their products or the ability to reopen the dispute.

How to Avoid It: Never close a dispute until the issue is fully resolved to your satisfaction. Keep communication on the AliExpress platform and adhere to the dispute process.

6. Incorrect Shipping Methods

You might pay extra for faster or tracked shipping, but the seller could use a cheaper method instead. This scam leads to long delays or lost packages, and in some cases, the tracking may show the item was delivered even when it wasn’t.

How to Avoid It: Always monitor your tracking information and ensure that the shipping method aligns with what you paid for. If there’s a discrepancy, file a dispute with AliExpress right away.

7. Re-sending Packages With a New Order

Sellers will offer to resend an item or replace it for a drastically reduced price — sometimes as low as $0.01. This scam aims to let the original buyer protection period expire while distracting you with the “new” order. In the end, you lose both the original and new order.

How to Avoid It: Stick to the dispute process and avoid creating new orders to resolve issues. Keep an eye on the expiration date of your buyer protection window.

8. PayPal Refund Traps

Sellers may promise a refund through PayPal, but only if you close the dispute on AliExpress first. Once the dispute is closed, the seller may vanish without sending the promised refund. This is a common scam used to take advantage of PayPal’s lack of buyer protection for AliExpress transactions.

How to Avoid It: Always keep your disputes within the AliExpress platform and never close them based on promises of a PayPal refund.

9. Disappearing Sellers

Some sellers will take your payment and disappear. They may delete their store or switch their account details, leaving you with no way to contact them. Even if you attempt to track them down, you’ll likely come up empty-handed.

How to Avoid It: Purchase only from sellers with a long-standing history and positive feedback ratings. Avoid new or unverified sellers with no reviews.

10. Personal Account Payment Requests

Sellers might ask you to transfer funds to a personal account outside of AliExpress, claiming it will expedite the process or avoid fees. Once the money is transferred, the seller may cut off all contact, and there’s no way for AliExpress to intervene.

How to Avoid It: Stick to AliExpress’s secure payment methods. Avoid any requests for payments outside of the platform.

How to Stay Safe When Sourcing from AliExpress

1. Research Sellers Thoroughly: Always vet your sellers by checking feedback scores, product descriptions, and customer reviews.

2. Use AliExpress’s Payment System: Always process transactions through the platform’s secure payment options.

3. Track Your Orders: Opt for shipping methods that offer tracking, especially for high-value items.

4. Beware of Unrealistic Offers: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid items with significantly lower prices than the competition.

5. Keep Communication on AliExpress: Never move conversations off the platform, as this will eliminate any traceable records if things go wrong.

6. Understand Buyer Protection: Familiarize yourself with the protection rules and open disputes before the protection window closes.

Protecting Your Business with IntelliChain Corporation

At IntelliChain Corporation, we provide expert guidance and services to help businesses source products from China safely and securely. We vet suppliers, ensure product quality, and manage logistics to prevent you from falling victim to common scams. With us acting as your trusted partner, you can focus on growing your business without the stress of dealing with fraud or unreliable suppliers.

Real-Life Case Studies of Businesses Impacted by AliExpress Scams

• A small dropshipping business lost thousands of dollars after being tricked by a tracking number scam. They never received their orders, but the scammer showed fake deliveries to close the dispute.

• Another business was pressured into closing a dispute in exchange for a new shipment, only for the seller to vanish afterward, leaving them without product or refund.

Final Thoughts: Safeguarding Your Business in the World of E-Commerce

Sourcing from AliExpress can be a great way to grow your business, but it comes with risks that must be managed carefully. By staying vigilant and partnering with experts like IntelliChain Corporation, you can protect yourself from common pitfalls while still taking advantage of the platform’s wide selection of affordable products. Safe sourcing starts with knowledge, and this guide should help you avoid scams and keep your business thriving.

Contact IntelliChain Corporation
Phone: +1 307-310-5502
Email: connect@intellichainco.com
Address: 306 N Main St. Sheridan, WY 82801