How Financial Scammers Catch Gullible Buyers on Foreign Platforms

International marketplaces attract buyers with a large assortment of goods and affordable prices. However, shopping abroad is often fraught with the risks of financial fraud. Fraud when shopping abroad can take various forms — from selling counterfeit goods to stealing payment data.

Scammers actively use the anonymity of online platforms to implement their schemes. They create fake stores, post deliberately false offers, and manipulate buyers using psychological tricks. As a result, buyers lose money, receiving low-quality products or not receiving anything at all.

To avoid such situations, it is necessary to understand the main fraud schemes and know how to verify the reliability of the seller.

Fake Sellers on AliExpress and Other Marketplaces 

Fake sellers on AliExpress, eBay, Amazon, and other international platforms create counterfeit accounts to deceive buyers. They attract customers with low prices and limited-time offers, prompting them to hastily place an order.

Signs of Scammers: 

• Registration of the store in the last weeks or days.
• Absence of reviews or only positive comments without photos.
• Prices that are too low for popular items.
• The seller offers direct payment, bypassing the platform.
• Using the same images and descriptions in different stores.

Often, after receiving the money, scammers delete their account or provide a fake tracking number not associated with the order. In such cases, the buyer loses money as they cannot prove the fact of fraud.

Additionally, there are schemes with partial deception. For example, the seller actually sends the item, but instead of the original product, the buyer receives a cheap counterfeit or incomplete set. In such cases, getting a refund through the platform may be challenging.

Scammers' Schemes in Online Stores 

Fraud when shopping abroad can be carried out in various ways. The most common schemes include:

1. Payment outside the platform – the seller offers a discount when transferring money directly, bypassing the marketplace. After receiving the funds, they stop communicating.
2. Fake tracking numbers – the buyer is given a non-existent track code or a number belonging to another order.
3. Product substitution – instead of the original product, a cheap replica or low-quality copy is sent.
4. Inflated shipping costs – the buyer pays for a cheap item, but the shipping turns out to be unreasonably expensive.
5. Refund fraud – the seller demands payment for return shipping or refuses to accept the item altogether.
6. Fake stores – clone sites of popular platforms are created, which steal buyers' payment data.

Fraudulent schemes with "dropshipping" are especially common. In this case, the seller acts as an intermediary and orders the product from third parties, without having actual control over its quality and delivery times.

Risks of Shopping on Foreign Sites 

Shopping on international platforms can be accompanied by various risks, including:

1. Long delivery times – due to the distance of the warehouse or logistics features, the time to receive the order can stretch for months.
2. No guarantees – many sellers do not provide a warranty on items when shipped to other countries.
3. Unaccounted payments – additional fees for currency conversion, customs duties, and taxes can significantly increase the final cost of the order.
4. Fake brands – buyers often encounter counterfeits, especially when ordering popular items.
5. Phishing sites – scammers create sites that mimic the design of well-known stores to steal payment data.

To avoid problems, it is important to study delivery terms in advance, check store ratings, and carefully read reviews from real buyers.

How to Avoid Scammers in E-commerce 

For safe shopping on international online platforms, follow these recommendations:

1. Use only official payment methods through the marketplace itself, avoiding direct transfers.
2. Check the seller's rating, number of orders, comments with photos, and the presence of negative reviews.
3. Carefully study the product description, return conditions, and delivery terms.
4. Compare prices on other platforms to identify suspiciously cheap offers.
5. Use virtual cards or payment systems that provide transaction protection.
6. Check the domain data of the site if the purchase is made outside of well-known marketplaces.

Additionally, you can check the site or seller through third-party services that analyze store reputations and identify suspicious transactions.

Following these measures significantly reduces the likelihood of falling victim to scammers when shopping on international platforms.