How to Avoid International Cross-border Shopping Scams Online?

Many consumers have special preference for international cross-border shopping online especially from China. Many new buyers are easily fall into the trap made by the fraud sellers. There is no such thing as a free lunch. There are countless pitfalls waiting you when buying online, so you must be careful when choosing. The following practical tips help you to avoid being deceived.

1. Try to choose well-known reliable websites to place orders.

First, you should try to choose those well-known shopping websites or platforms to place orders. The big website is usually much better in terms of product quality, customer service and logistics. We suggest you buy from eBay, AliExpress, Wish, Amazon, DHgate etc. These websites have been tested by numerous buyers and thought to be reliable sites.

2. Watch out the products with unbelievable low prices

It is reasonable and normal for a product sold from some websites that is a few dollars less than that of other websites, and some products may also have a discount period which are much cheaper than normal. But if the price is unbelievable low, you need to be careful, this is obviously fake product or low-quality one. Therefore, buyers are advised to be more vigilant in terms of price, and not be greedy to avoid suffering great losses.

3. Contact the seller before you buy

Many buyers that are scammed reflect they couldn’t contact the buyer successfully after they find they are cheated. To avoid this, you need to find contact ways of the seller from the website and try to talk few words with him/her before you place the order. Just ask the seller few questions like ‘if the product is free shipping?’ etc. Reliable sellers usually provide detailed address, phone number, email in their website and answer your questions in time. Some fake ones don’t provide contact method at all or only show email on the page. They will not reply you if you send them an email.

4. Watch out the way to pay

Another thing you should be careful is the way to pay for the item. If the seller only provides payment through Western Union, Wire Transfer or other payment that can’t be charged back once you are scammed, you need to avoid buying it. Reliable shipping websites or platforms usually support payment through PayPal, credit card, Alipay etc. which can be charged back.

5. See if the website has the buyer protection system

If the shipping websites or platform has the buyer protection system, the buyers can open a dispute when the item doesn’t arrive in time, is lost, damaged or you receive it not as it’s described on the website.

6. See Reviews for the Product

See reviews of the product is a good way to judge if the product is good or not. Some fake shopping websites often have no reviews for the products or have a review system that can be cooked by the sellers. If you find really bad reviews for the seller or products, or the reviews are obviously cooked by the sellers, you should avoid buying from it.

Share Your Experience

If you have been cheated in an international cross-boder shopping online, share it from the following page to let more people know:
https://www.chinapostaltracking.com/qa/cheating-and-stealing-money-28616/

Questions and Answers

mother fucker?

what a scam!!!!. lol never receive goods. mother fuckers got me good!!!!. too good to be true

1 Answer(s) | Asked by J.Naka | 6/12/2025 5:09:48 PM

Request for Assistance with Returned Parcel Held for Tax

Dear China Post Customer Service,. I am writing to request assistance with a parcel I sent from Poland to China, which is currently being held in Ningbo City. The tracking number is CP305987765PL.. This parcel is a **return shipment** of a product that turned out to be a scam. It has **no commercial value** and is not intended for resale or import. It appears that the parcel is being delayed due to a request for tax payment.. Please kindly note:. - This is a **non-commercial return**.. - The package should be classified as **"Returned Goods – No Commercial Value."**. I kindly ask for your help in releasing the package from customs without requiring tax payment, as it is a return of a defective item.. If you require any documents or a written declaration from my side, I am happy to provide them.. Thank you for your assistance. I look forward to your reply.. Best regards,

1 Answer(s) | Asked by Natalia | 6/12/2025 11:45:40 AM

It says on the tracking update it was delivered. But I haven’t get it.

It’s says on the tracking update it was delivered 6/9/25 but I haven’t get it. Where is it. Is it legit or a scam? Don’t even have the number to call. Sent an email but never responded, it’s ridiculous!

1 Answer(s) | Asked by vannz115 | 6/10/2025 7:27:21 PM

Where my order #ZA00495760501

Have no idea with going on the seller never reply’s her name is Christina Wong from AliExpress did I get scammed

1 Answer(s) | Asked by Jamieon | 6/5/2025 7:12:57 PM

Says delivered but was not received by us!

We ordered a parasol from TikTok which I tracked from Hong Kong to Norway. It says delivered to our postal code area but not to our address. I may have to report this to interpol as it could have been stolen or a fraud scam. . Tracking number: GZ0000646056YQ

0 Answer(s) | Asked by David | 6/4/2025 1:42:51 PM

Order tracking

Order number: GOA200560297YQ. Good afternoon, I had an order that was meant to be delivered today, I didn’t received package and no delivery notification or updates, it was my first time ordering from website and want to make sure this is legit and I didn’t get scammed, the courier doesn’t communicate I have no way of getting information

1 Answer(s) | Asked by Zipola uwanyiguze | 6/3/2025 2:12:10 AM

Ask a Question

User Name:

Your Email:

Summary of Your Question (no more than 80 characters):

Details of Your Question:

'Questions and Answers' opens during working days(from Monday-Friday). You are not allowed to post or reply questions now. Thank you for your cooperation.

Check Code:

Thank you！Your question has been posted successfully!