Learn how to spot and avoid the most common AliExpress and Alibaba scams. A practical guide for Canadian buyers to protect their money when sourcing from China.
Buying from AliExpress or Alibaba can save Canadian businesses and consumers a significant amount of money — but both platforms have a scam problem. From counterfeit goods to sellers who disappear after payment, the risk is real. This guide covers the most common AliExpress scams and Alibaba scams, how to recognize them before you lose money, and how to get a refund if things go wrong.
Are AliExpress and Alibaba Scams Common?
Neither AliExpress nor Alibaba is a scam in itself — both are legitimate e-commerce platforms with millions of genuine transactions every day. However, because they operate open marketplaces with third-party sellers, bad actors can and do take advantage of buyers.
AliExpress caters more to individual consumers, while Alibaba is designed for businesses placing bulk orders. The types of scams differ slightly between the two, but the end result is the same: buyers lose money or receive goods that are nothing like what was advertised.
For Canadian buyers, recovering losses from overseas sellers can be extremely difficult without the right protections in place.
The Most Common AliExpress Scams
1. Counterfeit and Fake Goods
This is the most widespread issue on AliExpress. Sellers list products using stock images of genuine branded items (Nike, Apple, Gucci, etc.) but ship obvious counterfeits. In Canada, importing counterfeit goods can create legal problems for the buyer as well.
How to spot it: If the price seems too good to be true for a recognizable brand, it almost certainly is. Legitimate sellers don’t sell brand-name goods at 90% discounts.
2. Not as Described (NAD)
This is the most common complaint on AliExpress. The product you receive looks nothing like the product photos. Colors are wrong, sizes are off, materials are cheap, and functionality is absent.
How to spot it: Look at verified buyer reviews with photos. If a product has hundreds of reviews but few photos from actual buyers, be cautious.
3. The Tracking Number Scam
Sellers ship an empty envelope or a worthless item (sometimes a piece of paper or a button) just to generate a legitimate tracking number. The tracking shows “delivered,” and the seller uses this as evidence you received your order.
How to spot it: Low-priced, high-value items from new sellers with limited feedback. Always check the shipping weight in the tracking details — a letter-sized envelope with a tracking number of 10g isn’t your order.
4. Slow Shipping to Run Out the Dispute Clock
AliExpress has a buyer protection window — if your dispute isn’t opened within a set timeframe (often 15 days after “delivery”), you lose your ability to claim a refund. Some sellers deliberately use the slowest possible shipping to expire your protection window.
How to spot it: Always check the estimated delivery date at the time of purchase. If delivery is expected very close to your protection window expiry, proceed with caution or choose a seller offering faster shipping.
5. Negative Feedback Extortion
Some sellers request positive reviews in exchange for discounts or gifts. This is less a scam on buyers, but it inflates seller ratings and reduces the reliability of review scores.
1. The Quality Switch (Bait and Switch)
This is the number one Alibaba scam. The factory sends excellent product samples to win your order, then ships bulk goods that are significantly lower quality. By the time you discover the problem, the factory has your full payment.
How to spot it: Never pay in full upfront. Use a payment structure of 30% deposit, 70% upon inspection before shipment. Always hire a third-party quality control inspector to check goods before they leave the factory.
2. Factory Impersonation
Some Alibaba “suppliers” are actually trading companies or middlemen posing as factories to add an extra markup. In more serious cases, they’re not even legitimate businesses — they take deposits and disappear.
How to spot it: Ask for the factory’s business license and request a video call showing you the production floor. Verify the company name on Alibaba against the business registration. Use Alibaba’s factory audit reports where available.
3. I Got Scammed on Alibaba: The Deposit and Ghost
The supplier quotes an excellent price, requests a 50% or full deposit, then becomes unreachable. This is especially common with smaller, newer suppliers who haven’t built up a reputation on the platform.
How to spot it: Only work with Trade Assurance orders on Alibaba. Avoid paying outside of Alibaba’s payment system (e.g., direct bank transfer, WeChat Pay, cryptocurrency). Trade Assurance covers you if the supplier fails to ship or ships non-conforming goods.
4. Fake Alibaba Scammer Lists
Ironically, there are scam websites that claim to provide “Alibaba scammer lists” for a fee. These sites are themselves scams — there’s no official or reliable “scammer list” for Alibaba. The only way to vet suppliers is through proper due diligence.
5. Overcharging Shipping at the Last Minute
Some suppliers quote very low product prices to win orders, then inflate the shipping cost significantly once the goods are ready. They know it’s costly for you to cancel at that stage.
How to spot it: Always negotiate a full landed cost (product + packaging + shipping to your port) before confirming an order.
How to Protect Yourself on Alibaba
Use Trade Assurance
Trade Assurance is Alibaba’s built-in buyer protection program. Orders placed under Trade Assurance are covered if:
- The goods are not shipped on time
- The goods don’t match the agreed product specifications
- The goods are significantly not as described
Always ensure your order is placed under a Trade Assurance contract, and keep all specifications documented in writing within the order.
Verify Suppliers Before Paying
Before placing any significant order, verify your supplier by:
- Requesting a copy of their business license
- Checking how long they’ve been on Alibaba
- Reviewing their Trade Assurance history and transaction volume
- Requesting a video call showing you the factory
- Ordering a paid factory audit report (SGS, Bureau Veritas)
Never Pay Outside Alibaba’s System
If a supplier asks you to pay via bank transfer, PayPal Friends & Family, Western Union, or cryptocurrency — it’s a major red flag. These payment methods have no buyer protection.
How to Protect Yourself on AliExpress
Use AliExpress Buyer Protection
Every AliExpress order is covered by Buyer Protection. If your order doesn’t arrive or doesn’t match the description, you can open a dispute through the AliExpress platform. Keep all evidence: photos, video, order confirmation, and original product listing screenshots.
Open Disputes on Time
Don’t wait. Open your dispute before the Buyer Protection window closes — typically within 15 days of the expected delivery date or the actual delivery date. If you miss this window, AliExpress automatically closes the dispute in the seller’s favor.
Pay with Credit Card
In Canada, paying with a Visa or Mastercard gives you an additional layer of protection through your bank’s chargeback process. If AliExpress Buyer Protection fails, you can file a chargeback with your card issuer for goods not received or significantly not as described.
How to Get a Refund on AliExpress
Step 1: Open a dispute via My Orders > Open Dispute
Step 2: Select the reason (item not received, item not as described, etc.)
Step 3: Provide evidence (photos, videos, order screenshots)
Step 4: Negotiate with the seller or escalate to AliExpress for mediation
Step 5: If escalated, AliExpress will review and issue a ruling within 3–7 business days
Most straightforward cases (e.g., item never arrived) are resolved with a full refund. Partial refunds are common for “not as described” cases.
How to Get a Refund on Alibaba
Trade Assurance disputes on Alibaba are handled differently from AliExpress:
Step 1: Log into your Alibaba account and navigate to the order
Step 2: Click “Apply for Refund” and select your reason
Step 3: Upload evidence (QC inspection report, photos, videos, lab tests)
Step 4: Alibaba mediates between you and the supplier
Step 5: Alibaba’s ruling is typically final
For large orders, having a pre-shipment inspection report from a third-party company (QIMA, Asia Inspection, SGS) dramatically strengthens your case.
Is Using a Sourcing Agent Safer?
For Canadian businesses placing regular or large orders from Chinese suppliers, working with a professional sourcing agent significantly reduces scam risk. A sourcing agent:
- Vets suppliers before you commit
- Negotiates payment terms that protect you
- Conducts quality control inspections
- Manages logistics from factory to your door
- Provides a local point of contact in China if problems arise
Epic Sourcing Canada works with Canadian businesses to source products safely and efficiently from Chinese manufacturers, reducing the risk of scams and quality failures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AliExpress a scam?
No, AliExpress itself is a legitimate platform owned by Alibaba Group. However, some individual sellers on the platform operate fraudulently. Using AliExpress Buyer Protection and paying by credit card significantly reduces your risk.
I got scammed on Alibaba — what do I do?
If you paid via Trade Assurance, file a dispute immediately through your Alibaba account. Provide all evidence including the original order agreement, product specifications, and photos or inspection reports showing the discrepancy. If you paid outside Alibaba’s system, your options are limited — contact your bank for a potential chargeback.
Is there an official Alibaba scammer list?
No. There is no official list of Alibaba scammers. Any website claiming to sell access to one is itself a scam. The best way to avoid scammers is proper supplier vetting before you place an order.
How do I know if an AliExpress seller is legit?
Check the seller’s store rating, number of transactions, feedback score, and verified reviews with photos. Sellers with 95%+ positive ratings and thousands of transactions are generally reliable. Be cautious with new stores with few reviews.
Can I get my money back if I’m scammed on AliExpress?
Yes, in most cases — if you act within the Buyer Protection window. Open a dispute before the protection period expires, provide clear evidence, and escalate to AliExpress mediation if the seller doesn’t respond or offer a fair resolution. Using a credit card adds an extra layer via chargeback.
What is the safest payment method on Alibaba?
Trade Assurance orders paid through Alibaba’s own payment system (Alipay or credit card via Alibaba) offer the most protection. Never pay by bank transfer, Western Union, or cryptocurrency to an Alibaba supplier you haven’t fully verified.
Ready to Source from China Without the Risk?
Epic Sourcing Canada provides full-service sourcing support for Canadian businesses looking to import from China. From supplier vetting and quality control to shipping and customs, we manage the process so you don’t have to worry about scams.
Contact Epic Sourcing Canada today for a free consultation.
