How to avoid dropshipping scams
- Apr 7
- 3 min read
If you decide to do dropshipping, don't forget to be careful. It's a great business model, but it's full of pitfalls. You can either make easy money or lose it all. Fraudsters, counterfeiters and scams can be waiting at every turn.
Step Link Platform Inc. experts share how to avoid unpleasant situations.
Beware of ‘too good’ offers
Scammers often attract the attention of buyers with incredibly cheap goods. But remember: in 99% of cases, you will receive a low-quality product that is not worth even half of the amount you paid. It's another 1% that the product won't arrive at all.
What to do:
Before you buy, check the market price of the item at other vendors.
Read reviews about the seller to make sure they are not a scammer.
If the price looks too tempting, it's better to pass it by.
Fake Brands and Counterfeits
The dropshipping world is full of sellers who offer counterfeits of famous brands. You may pay for a brand and get a cheap and low-quality copy.
What to do:
Check the vendor's licence and reviews.
Make a small trial order, make sure the supplier doesn't work with fake products.
Vendors Who Disappear After Receiving Money
One of the most common types of fraud is when a vendor disappears with your money. You pay, but you never receive the goods, and the vendor simply disappears from contact. This is especially common if you work with unknown vendors who ask for upfront payment off-platform.
What to do:
Never send money directly through bank transfers or systems that do not protect the buyer.
Only use platforms that offer security and fraud protection.
Do not pay off-platform, even if offered a ‘very favourable’ deal.
Check the quality of the goods and their conformity with the picture
The goods may be non-functional or very different from what was shown in the picture.
What to do:
Ask the supplier to provide real photos of the goods, not advertising pictures.
Order samples of the goods to see for yourself the quality.
Gold jewellery and jewellery scams
Scammers can offer jewellery at low prices, Step Link Canada managers noted. You'll end up with cheap costume jewellery that's worthless. Verifying the authenticity of gold or jewellery can be difficult.
What to do:
Check product certificates.
Check the seller's reputation carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Be wary of sales representatives
Scammers may pretend to be official sales representatives of brands, offering goods at ‘special’ prices.
What to do:
Never send money to a sales representative's bank account. If they offer to pay by card - in 99% of cases you will be scammed.
Work only through official platforms with secure payment methods.
Step Link company gives advice on what to do if you become a victim of fraud
Don't panic! Contact the technical support of the payment system and try to get your money back.
If you bought goods through the platform, report the incident to the site administration.
Consider filing a complaint with specialised authorities to prevent scammers from getting away with impunity.
Dropshipping can be a great way to make money, but if you're not careful, it's easy to lose money. Beware of scammers and always check suppliers before you make a deal. Only use trusted platforms and don't be tempted by suspiciously low prices.
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