A poll indicates that 58 percent of TikTok users shop directly through the app, which opens the door to third-party sellers scamming users. Sometimes this leads to scam sites, especially where the prices are “too good to be true”.
TikTok itself is mindful of security risks:
“If you receive an email from someone claiming to be from TikTok, check the email address and ensure it ends with @tiktok.com before opening or replying to it. Avoid clicking on unknown links or opening unknown attachments, as they could be fraudulent or malicious.”
But does this go far enough?
This leads to advice to only use verified sellers as well as reading previous reviews to ensure legitimacy. It is also important to understand the protections offered by TikTok and also your payment provider, always check for secure options.
TikTok has become one of the biggest social media platforms, and the introduction of TikTok Shop has only increased this popularity due to its accessibility and seeming affordability – but this does not come without risks.
TikTok Shop, while generally a legitimate marketplace, is susceptible to scams. Buyers should be aware of potential risks such as fake items, delayed delivery, and phishing scams. To avoid being scammed, it’s important to check seller verification, look for reviews, and be cautious about clicking suspicious links.
The market research company GWI has revealed, according to The Belfast Telegraph, that 58 percent of TikTok users shop directly on the app, putting a lot of users at risk of being scammed by dishonest third-party sellers, as the marketplace attracts fraudulent sellers.
Some common scams are:
Fake Items: Scammers may sell items that don’t exist or are significantly different from what’s advertised.
Delayed Delivery: Scammers may take payment and never ship the purchased item.
Phishing Scams: Scammers may try to trick users into sharing personal information by clicking on suspicious links or visiting fake websites.
Impersonation: Scammers may impersonate verified brands or influencers to gain trust and steal money.
Young users could be especially affected, with the app’s largest demographic being 10-19-year-olds, which is concerning as they likely have reduced awareness around identifying a scam. The TikTok ‘shop’ tab promotes deals at extortionately low prices, which can entice buyers, but these may be too good to be true in many cases.
