Shein customers are being alerted to a concerning new phishing scam that jeopardizes their personal information and finances. This alarming trend involves individuals receiving emails purportedly from Shein.
The email promises a coveted Shein Mystery Box and encourages recipients to click on a link to claim their prize. However, the website they are directed to is not the genuine Shein site.
Entering personal information on this fraudulent site exposes users to identity theft, as fraudsters exploit the data. Tech expert Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, advises recipients on how to respond if they receive such an email.
“If you receive an email offering a ‘Shein mystery box,’ refrain from opening it. It’s a phishing attempt, not from Shein but from unidentified hackers seeking to steal personal information.”
Porcar explains that the phishing website is designed to deceive recipients into entering their details, mimicking Shein’s official site. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the legitimate website to ascertain the authenticity of offers like mystery boxes.
The fraudulent website closely resembles Shein’s, but the distinguishing factor is the URL, which differs from the official site. Users should remain vigilant and cautious of such scams to safeguard their personal information.
There are several fake Shein websites circulating the web, however there are ways you can spot these.
- If the domain name does not match Shein’s official site (shein.com), variations should be considered untrustworthy.
- Check for a legitimate contact page with company addresses, customer service numbers, and employee information. Scam sites will often not have these.
- Search for online reviews of the website from a trusted independent source.
- Look for poorly edited images with watermarks or low resolutions. Shein uses professional photography for all of its products.
- Be cautious of prices that seem more than 50% lower than Shein’s real pricing, as extreme discounts are always suspicious.
- Watch out for spelling and grammar errors throughout the site
- Make sure secure checkout protocols like “https” URLs and lock icons are present before entering payment details anywhere
Marc Porcar emphasizes the importance of never disclosing personal or payment information via phone call, text message, or WhatsApp when communicating with Shein customer service. Shein exclusively employs email and in-site chat for customer inquiries.
As one of the world’s most popular shopping platforms, with over 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store alone, Shein is a prime target for scammers seeking to deceive shoppers.
Recent reports have uncovered a malware campaign dubbed Mal, which comprised over 1,000 phishing emails impersonating Shein. These emails contained deceptive subject lines and links directing recipients to credential-harvesting sites.
For individuals who have fallen victim to fraudulent Shein websites, experiencing personal information theft or non-receipt of items, Marc Porcar outlines steps to take:
Firstly, contact your bank or payment provider immediately to halt any pending transactions and explain the situation regarding payment to a scam website impersonating Shein. You can then dispute the charges as fraudulent.
Monitor your credit card statements and bank account closely for any unauthorized charges from the fake website, reporting any discrepancies.
Reach out to legitimate Shein customer support using the contact information provided on their official website to flag the fake website.
Warn other potential victims by leaving online reviews detailing your experience with the scam site.
Remain vigilant for potential identity theft resulting from entering personal information on the fake site and regularly monitor your credit reports.
To officially report the fraudulent website as an internet crime, contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov
