Shein shoppers alerted to the 'do not open' mystery box email

Shein shoppers alerted to the ‘do not open’ mystery box email

An expert has told people what to look out for to spot the dangerous scam that could cost you hundreds or thousands of pounds

Shein customers could be targeted by ruthless scammers in the weeks leading up to Christmas(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Shein shoppers are being told to exercise caution in the coming weeks. It comes after fraudsters were caught trying to dupe people with tempting online offers that seem too good to be true.

The Chinese brand was founded in 2008. The platform has become so popular recently that scammers have used its trusted reputation for their own criminal benefit.

The online fashion giant occasionally sends its customers good offers online, but what you should pay attention to is the ‘mystery box’. Shein may sometimes spread these honestly, but it has become an easy way for scammers to collect your personal information.

Marc Porcar, CEO of QR code generatorhas issued a stark warning to shoppers who want to avoid being scammed by online scammers who are exploiting the internet for their schemes. He said: “If you receive an email with a ‘Shein mystery box’, do not open it. It is a phishing email, not from Shein, but from unidentified hackers who want to steal your personal information.”

He further explained the mechanics of the scam, adding: “This website is designed to trick recipients into clicking on a link that redirects them to a fake website. This website mimics Shein’s official website, allowing users to change their personal enter data to win a prize. Although Shein does offer legitimate mystery boxes during promotions or special events, the way to know if they are legitimate is to recognize the website you are being directed to.”

Scammers have started using Shein to trick people into giving up their banking information(Image: Getty)

Since there are already a number of fake Shein websites online, Marc advises that there are simple methods to identify a fake site. Typically, these sites have one or more glaring problems that should raise skepticism among vigilant buyers, reports the mirror.

Spotting these tell-tale signs can help you avoid making a big mistake that could cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Things to look out for include:

If the domain name does not match Shein’s official site (shein.com). Variations (including misspellings or different endings such as .co.uk) should be considered unreliable
Check to see if there is a legitimate contact page with company addresses, customer service numbers, and employee information. Scam sites often do not have these
Look for poorly edited images with watermarks or low resolutions. Shein uses professional photography for all its products.
Be careful of prices that appear more than 50% lower than Shein’s actual prices. Extreme discounts are always suspicious.
Look for spelling and grammar errors throughout the site
Ensure secure checkout protocols such as ‘https’ URLs and lock icons are in place before entering payment information anywhere

Shein shoppers often use the website to purchase fast fashion, home goods and other discount items

Marc added: “When speaking with Shein customer service, it is important to never share personal or payment information via phone call, text message or WhatsApp. Shein only uses email and in-site chat for customer service.”

Shein is one of the world’s most popular shopping platforms, with more than 500 million downloads on the Google Play Store alone, meaning scammers have a lot of potential to dupe shoppers. The cybersecurity specialist advises those who fall prey to such scams to take quick action.

He said: “Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to stop any pending transactions and explain that you have paid a scam website pretending to be Shein. You can then dispute the charges as fraud.

“Make sure to closely monitor your credit card statements and bank account for any unauthorized charges from the fake website and report it if so. Contact Shein’s legitimate customer support at the number on their official website to flag the fake website.”