How to avoid fake sellers on Shopee and Lazada

The rise of online stores like Shopee and Lazada helped many business owners earn money, and consumers save money by giving them a wide array of items to choose from, various payment schemes, and even on-the-day delivery. It allowed us to shop without even stepping outside the house.

However, like every good thing, scammers always find a way to take advantage of innovation and ruin the day for everyone by selling fake products to unsuspecting buyers.

In the 2023 Asia Scam Report, the Philippines had the highest number of online shopping scams among 11 economies. This issue is a big deal because it shows how many Filipino consumers are vulnerable to scams in the online shopping space.

So, how do you avoid buying items from fake sellers on Shopee and Lazada?

1. Shop through LazMall, Shopee Mall, and Official Stores

Lazada’s LazMall and Shopee Mall are the official online shopping sections of their respective apps. There, you can purchase authentic products and enjoy perks such as free returns, free delivery, and various promotions.

You will also find official stores and flagship stores for numerous local and international brands, making it unlikely that you will encounter fake sellers in these areas.

I’m not saying never to shop on the main Lazada and Shopee pages. However, you must be more vigilant when looking for items to buy outside the mall and official stores.

2. Compare prices with other listings

It’s crucial to compare the prices when buying items on online shopping apps. You can check the product’s official website to check their prices so you will have a reference to compare the prices to avoid buying fake items or imitations.

For example, I saw a seller on Shopee selling a Nike Vaporfly Next% 3 for Php1,834 with a “discounted price” of Php1,687. The price alone is a huge red flag because, according to the official website, these elite running shoes cost Php12,000. This is a huge red flag because the shoes are likely counterfeit.

Instances like this can trick an unsuspecting customer into buying a pair of shoes, thinking it is legitimate, but it is fake. There’s also a possibility that the item won’t even arrive.

3. Check for reviews with images and videos

Ratings and reviews are some of the ways e-commerce sites use to ensure the legitimacy of products sold. However, scammers have also found a way to game the system, like buying the items themselves, giving five stars, and writing positive reviews to make their products appear legit.

One way to verify reviews is to filter them and only focus on those with pictures or videos of an item. Then, read the reviews with lower stars (1 to 3 stars) and read what is common with the item. Typically, those are more reliable.

I don’t know if it’s a Filipino thing on e-commerce sites, but there are plenty of unhelpful reviews that only talk about the nice packaging or the speed of delivery, ignoring the quality of the item itself.

I tried looking for examples of fake reviews and ratings but to no avail. The older posts that used to have a lot of these fake engagements have also been deleted. So, maybe Shopee and Lazada found a way to expedite this process.

4. Never pay outside the platform

One of the biggest red flags on any platform is if a seller tries to transact with you outside the platform, such as online shopping apps like Shopee and Lazada. If you pay a seller through a different method, like a bank transfer or mobile wallet, you may never hear from them again.

How to report fake sellers on Shopee

If you encounter fake sellers on Shopee, here’s how you can report them:

Step 1: Go to the seller’s shop.

Step 2: Select the ellipses (…) in the upper right-hand corner of the app.

Step 3: Click “Report this user.”

Step 4: Select your reason (Prohibited Item, Scam, Counterfeit, Offensive chat, Directing transaction outside of Shopee, Data privacy violation, Posting pornographic, obscene, and vulgar content, others)

Step 5: Select “Scam / Counterfeit.”

Step 6: Input your reason for reporting and add your supporting images.

Step 7: Click “Report”

Shopee will then investigate the issue and will update you.

How to report fake sellers on Lazada

If you ever experience fake sellers on Lazada, here are the steps to follow to report them.

Step 1: Go to the store or the product you like to report.

Step 2: Click the ellipses (…) on the upper right-hand portion of the app.

Step 3: Click ‘Report.’

Step 4: Select among the issues to report (Offensive content, Prohibited Goods, Suspected store/product, Suspicious payment method, Others).

Step 5: Choose ‘Suspected Store/Product.”

Step 6: Input all the necessary details and reasons, and upload evidence.

Step 7: Click “Submit”

Lazada will then investigate the issue and will update you.

Fake sellers are everywhere, and it’s our responsibility as buyers to avoid them. When buying on e-commerce platforms like Shopee and Lazada, we must do our due diligence, checking the seller’s profile and item details and scrutinizing ratings and reviews.

Have you ever experienced buying fake items on Shopee or Lazada? Please share them in the comments.