Is TikTok Shop a Scam?

If you’re thinking of shopping at TikTok Shop, you need to know: Is TikTok Shop a scam? 

Below, we explain whether TikTok Shop is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when shopping on this online platform. 

What Is TikTok Shop?

TikTok Shop is a feature within the TikTok app that lets businesses, brands, and individual creators sell goods straight to users. 

It is available in various regions, including the U.S., U.K., Southeast Asia, and more. 

The feature was launched in 2023. 

TikTok users can make in-app purchases through: 

• Product listings. Sellers can create a shop and list products directly on TikTok, which users can then access through their profiles or videos.
• Shoppable videos. Businesses and influencers can tag products in their videos, and users can buy directly from the video.
• Live shopping (TikTok Live). Hosts can showcase products during live streams, and users can buy them in real time without leaving the TikTok app.
• Shop tab. A “Shop” tab shows up on eligible sellers’ profiles, displaying their products.

TikTok creators can earn commission through selling items through affiliate links. 

Both big brands (e.g., Benefit Cosmetics, Revolve) and small independent sellers sell on TikTok Shop.

TikTok takes a cut from sales on TikTok Shop. 

Is TikTok Shop a Scam?

No, TikTok Shop is not a scam. It’s a legitimate e-commerce marketplace where users can buy items without leaving the TikTok app. 

However, just because it’s not a scam, that doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have a good experience with TikTok Shop. As with most online marketplaces, you can still encounter scams, counterfeit products, and misleading deals.

Writing for Allure, Brennan Kilbane said he bought on TikTok Shop what seemed to be luxury perfume at a steep discount from a seller named “Restaurant Fried Chicken Group LLC.” 

The product never arrived, and even though TikTok lets customers raise a return/refund request 30 calendar days after the package is “delivered” and offers a 90-day Buyer Protection Program, he had to dispute the charge with his credit card company.  

TikTok Shop takes no responsibility when it comes to disputes. It says: 

“TikTok will not be responsible for any enforcement of any contract or agreement between You and Subscribers or any dispute and/or liability that may arise out of a Partner Contract.” 

Allure’s Kilbane was somewhat more lucky with the other items he bought. 

A $3 moisturizer that did arrive resembled CeraVe but had an odd texture, suggesting possible formulation differences. On the other hand, an Embryolisse moisturizer was likely an older batch rather than a counterfeit since it seemed chemically identical to the authentic Embryolisse. 

The Good Housekeeping Institute and its staff reported positive experiences when shopping on TikTok Shop. 

One Good Housekeeping Institute staff said: “It reminds me of Amazon, so there are brands that I trust and others that I don’t.”

That seems to be the general consensus online, too.

However, what you buy matters, as some products can be unsafe. 

When Which? bought five electric heaters through TikTok Shop, three were unsafe, and one lacked key safety warnings. TikTok removed the heaters for violating its policies. 

In 2022, a children’s toy recalled due to choking risk was sold on TikTok Shop. After Which? Alerted TikTok, the toy was removed.

Misinformation

Because some TikTok Shop ads prioritize engagement over accuracy, misinformation can easily spread unchecked until it reaches millions of viewers.

In one example from 2024, a video with nearly 1 million views promoted a book titled “The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies,” claiming it contained secrets previously locked away in an ancient book located in the “Vatican library” and was previously only available on the dark web before surfacing on TikTok. 

Another TikTok Shop video with more than 1 million views that promoted the book was captioned, “Cure for over 550 diseases, even cancer.”

While TikTok Shop policies prohibit misleading content, only the product link is removed if a video violates these rules (i.e., the video itself can stay up). Only if a video explicitly violates community guidelines, which ban medical misinformation, is it taken down entirely. 

Security

TikTok Shop partners with trusted third-party payment platforms to ensure a seamless and secure transaction experience on TikTok Shop.

TikTok requires sellers to provide documentation like government-issued IDs, and businesses must produce certifications, including a license from a government agency. TikTok also says it does regular audits to make sure this information is up-to-date and reviews the platform for counterfeit products and dupes. 

Customers can report items that don’t match the rules and fraudulent sellers.

Privacy

TikTok Shop’s privacy policy sets out what data it collects and why.

The platform collects information it needs to facilitate your purchase, like your name, address, card payment details, purchase history, etc. 

It uses this information to perform its contract with you and shares it with the merchant you ordered from, third-party logistics providers, and payment providers.

So, Should You Shop On TikTok Shop?

Depends on your risk tolerance. 

TikTok Shop can be a convenient way to take advantage of viral deals and trendy products, but, like pretty much any other similar online marketplace, it comes with risks like scams, counterfeit goods, and misleading promotions.

How to Use TikTok Shop Safely

Here are some tips for a safer experience while shopping on TikTok Shop. 

• Check seller reviews. Buy from sellers with multiple positive reviews and a good sales history.
• Look for contact information. If a seller has a website, email, or phone number, they are more likely to be legitimate. If possible, see how responsive they are to queries. 
• Avoid unrealistically low prices. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Use secure payment methods. Avoid sharing sensitive payment information outside TikTok’s platform and use a credit card (they have better fraud protection and chargeback options than debit cards).
• Use TikTok’s official payment system. Always complete transactions through TikTok Shop’s built-in payment system to ensure buyer protection.
• Use TikTok Messaging. Always communicate with sellers through TikTok’s official messaging system to avoid issues. 
• Carefully examine photos: Even though TikTok Shop prohibits selling counterfeit replicas, these products may still appear. Closely inspect product images and descriptions before buying.
• Know your rights. Read TikTok Shop’s refund & return policies (buyers have six days after delivery to request a return). If an item doesn’t arrive 48 hours after the expected delivery date, you can request a refund directly from TikTok.
• Be careful with Live Shopping and comments. Don’t share personal details in public chats.
• Report scammers. Report repeat scam sellers to TikTok and the Better Business Bureau.
• Be cautious of TikTok product promotions. Many influencers are paid to advertise, making endorsements potentially misleading. 
• Delete your TikTok account. If you’d like to reduce your digital footprint, consider deleting your TikTok account altogether. For step-by-step instructions, follow our guide here.