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👍 Do’s & don’ts:

• Never share personal details such as your OTP, password or ShopeePay PIN
• Never scan QR codes, open suspicious links or download attachments from messages, even if they’re sent within the Shopee App
• Frequently scan your device for malware
• Don’t respond to messages that aren’t sent via official channels, such as email, using our @shopee.com domain or verified social media accounts
• Don’t trust sellers who direct you to transact outside of Shopee
• Always look for signs that you’ve landed on a fraudulent website which includes misspelt words and typos
• Regularly change your passwords, notify your bank of potential fraud and look out for unexpected charges on your credit card if you’ve entered sensitive information on a fraudulent website

🔍 Common scams to look out for:

QR scam 🤳

What is it: In this scam, you’ll be contacted by a ‘Shopee Seller’ privately asking you to make payment for your orders outside of the Shopee app.

How it works: This happens after you’ve placed an order on the Shopee app. The seller will then reach out to you via Shopee chat and offer you a ‘special promotion price’. The seller will subsequently cancel your order and you’re required to place a new order.

Following this, the seller will reach out to you outside of the Shopee app (typically through WhatsApp) to send a ‘ShopeePay QR code’ for the ‘special promotion price’, as well as a set of instructions on how to make the payment.

Once you’ve paid via the QR code, the seller will disappear and your order will never be fulfilled.

How you can avoid it: Don’t fall for the seller’s trick, in which they offer something at a cheaper price via QR payment or outside of the Shopee app. Also, don’t transact outside of the Shopee app and ensure all payments are made within the app. If you’re asked to make a transaction outside of the Shopee app, please don’t hesitate to report the seller to Shopee.

Parcel Scams 📦

What is it: In this scam, you’re asked to make additional payments for delivery due to issues such as parcel weight being exceeded, etc.

How it works: Scammers text you on the Shopee app claiming there’s a mistake in the calculation of your parcel’s dimensions and weight. You’ll be required to pay the higher shipping fee outside the Shopee platform.

To make it seem more legitimate, some scammers might also include your name and the original item purchased - and then inform you that the shipping fee paid at the time of purchase will be refunded within 24 hours after the higher shipping fee has been paid.

After receiving the payment, the scammer signs off and disappears from the conversation.

How you can avoid it: Remember that genuine sellers will never ask you to make payments outside the Shopee app. If something seems suspicious or when in doubt, contact Shopee Customer Service immediately.

Lucky Draw Scams 🎰

What is it: You’re informed you’ve won a prize and are required to share certain personal and financial information to claim the prize.

How it works: In lucky draw scams, scammers approach the victim and claim they won a Shopee contest. To claim the prize, the victim would be asked to provide a one-time password (OTP)/verification code, contact number and other personal information including credit card details. The OTP will then be used to authorise credit/debit card transactions on Shopee.

How you can avoid it: Shopee takes user security and data privacy very seriously. We’d never ask you for your personal information. You should also verify the identity of the person contacting you and monitor transactions on your credit/debit card. Furthermore, all announcements on Shopee campaigns and prizes will only be through official Shopee channels.

Part-time Job Scams 💼

What is it: Text messages sent to you from unknown numbers through communication apps or social media (typically via WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram ad or private message). You’ll be asked if you’re interested in working with Shopee, or are informed that you’ve been selected by Shopee to work online to earn an extra income. The catch? You’ve to pay first to get paid.

How it works: These part-time online jobs promise easy money - all you’ve to do is make purchases at certain shops and you’ll be refunded with commission for making those purchases. Initially, you may receive these refunds as a way for the scammer to gain your trust. However, as the value of the purchases increases, victims will eventually not receive the refunds.

Here's a first-hand account from a victim of how this scam works.

How you can avoid it: One thing to remember is that Shopee DOESN’T employ any individuals to recruit employees through messaging platforms. Shopee also confirms that there’s no such role as ‘Online Purchasing Agents’ in the organisation. Shopee will never request advance payment or deposits as a requirement to work with, or for us.

On top of that, always remember that all finance-related activities will strictly be done through the Shopee app or official website only.

⚠️ Note

• Beware as scammers may use spoofed headers to make their messages look like they’re from Shopee

Complete Order Scam 🚨

What is it: Scammers convince you to release payment early so that they can resell the products you purchased.

How it works: Scammers may try to convince you to select Order Received before you receive your items. When you do so, the protection of your payment under Shopee Guarantee ends, your payment for that order is released to the scammer and you can’t raise a Return/Refund request. In other words, the scammer gets your money and you may never receive your items.

How you can avoid it: Don’t trust sellers who try to convince you to select Order Received before you receive your items. Extend Shopee Guarantee if you’ve yet to receive your items or need additional time to check the parcel received. Don’t engage in other types of transactions (other than buying) on Shopee, such as a resale transaction.

Impersonation Scam 🕵️

What is it: Scammers pretend to be either official personnel of organisations or Shopee employees to cheat money out of unsuspecting victims.

How it works in different scenarios:

#1: There have been reports of individuals receiving calls, emails, and text messages from fraudsters impersonating Shopee Supported Logistics. These scammers ask for personal information, such as full name and bank account details; and request monetary transfers for parcel release.

#2: Victims receive messages from individuals posing as Shopee employees to participate in a marketing survey and are then offered monetary incentives for completing the survey. Victims who completed the survey would be offered a higher-paying role as a ‘Shopee assistant’.

Victims are instructed to choose a pre-paid ‘task package’, which involves transferring money to bank accounts provided by the scammers before starting ‘work’. Initially, they would receive their increased earnings and be convinced to top up their accounts to receive additional earnings. Eventually, victims won’t be able to withdraw their earnings.

How you can avoid it: Like the part-time job scam, Shopee will never request advance payment or deposits as a requirement to work with, or for us. Please stay vigilant and don’t trust unofficial sources claiming to be Shopee.

⚠️ Note

• Shopee will never ask for any of your credit/debit card details for verification purposes. If you receive any calls or text messages from someone claiming to be a Shopee customer service agent asking for such details, please don’t disclose your personal information and ignore any calls or messages from that particular number

⚠️ Note

• Shopee and Shopee Mall don’t have any operations in Zambia. Shopee is available in Southeast Asia, Taiwan and Latin America. You can find the latest list of markets at the bottom of the Shopee homepage via your desktop browser

Among the examples below, the scammers may get you to do one of the following:

• Share your OTP/account password/ShopeePay PIN
• Share your personal information such as your date of birth which customer service agents may use to verify a buyer's identity
• Make payment to an account number they provide
• Click on any link that will redirect you to a third-party page
• Urgently asks you to transfer money or release payment to them

⚠️ Note

• Learn more about Shopee Guarantee and Shopee Mall
• Be sure to check the credibility of the messages you receive before transferring money to anyone

You should always ignore or report such cases as Shopee will never ask for these details via unofficial platforms. Furthermore, Shopee will never ask for your passwords and PINs.

Shopee will only contact you via official channels, such as the Shopee App, our verified social media accounts, or email addresses that end with @shopee.com.

What steps should you take if you believe you've been a target?

If you've been a victim of one of these scams, please reach out to Shopee Customer Service using the Internet Call feature for further assistance. Alternatively, you can chat with our live agents by following these steps:

Step 1: Click on the ‘Me’ tab

Step 2: Click on 'Chat with Shopee'

Step 3: Select ‘Chat with Live Agent’

If you encounter any suspicious online activities, become a victim of a scam, or experience any form of monetary loss, please promptly report them to your nearest police station, your issuing banks and or the relevant authorities via the following channels:

1. The National Scam Response Center (NSRC) by dialling 997 to report scam cases. (Monday to Sunday, 8AM - 8PM, including public holidays) or refer to NSRC website for more information.

2. SEMAKMULE, a PDRM platform to check on bank accounts and telephone numbers involved with commercial crimes.

3. CCID Infoline (8AM - 12AM), a PDRM WhatsApp channel to check on the status of police reports and submit information on commercial crime cases.

4. CCID Scam Response Centre (8AM - 8PM), a PDRM information hotline to submit information or inquire information on online scams: +03-26101559