Is TikTok Shop safe? How to avoid scams and find bargains

AROUND 2.8 million UK consumers made a purchase through the TikTok shop last year.

All the latest trends, often sold at remarkably cheap prices, has led some shoppers wondering if the TikTok shop is too good to be true. Here's what we know.

What is TikTok Shop?

TikTok shop is an e-commerce feature of the video app TikTok.

If you head to the app, you are sure to be able to get your hands on a wide range of products.

You can get yourself a whole new wardrobe in the fashion section or you might want to buy some kitchen supplies.

There are a range of prices available on the mobile store but you're sure to grab yourself some bargains.

Popular TikTok creators often advertise products from the shop as they are given affiliate links which means they make money from referring followers.

Entrepreneurs can upload their products onto TikTok Shop for others to purchase.

When was TikTok Shop created?

It was announced in October 2020 that TikTok was partnering with Shopify for a feature called TikTok: For Business.

This eventually led to TikTok Shop becoming a separate section of the app.

TikTok Shop officially launched in September 2023.

Is TikTok Shop a legitimate store?

TikTok Shop is a legitimate store in terms of buyers receive the products that they have ordered.

However, it is important to stay vigilant when it comes to scams.

But if you make sure you are purchasing from reputable sellers then you will receive your intended goods on time.

Possible scams on TikTok Shop include:

Counterfeit products

Scammers may create listings for branded products but when the purchaser receives it, it could be fake.

To avoid this, you can avoid prices that seem too good to be true and look for sellers with plenty of good reviews.

Payment fraud

Scammers may ask buyers to make payments outside of the TikTok Shop app.

Ensure that you pay for your product within the app and don't use unverified payment links or bank transfers.

Non-Delivery Scams

You may find that you order a product and never have it arrive - this is a non-delivery scam.

You can try and avoid this by making sure you receive an order confirmation, and refrain from buying from sellers with poor reviews.

Is TikTok Shop safe?

There are several ways that you can ensure you stay safe when buying on TikTok Shop.

Here's some advice from the Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis:

• Avoid scam ads: Be wary of scam ads and make sure you're only purchasing via the TikTok app itself because the TikTok Shop doesn't give protection for any purchases made outside of the app.
• Don't be ': Be cautious buying electrical goods as online marketplaces aren't required by law to check safety.
• Always check seller reviews: Anyone can create their own shop and sell goods so it's vital to read seller reviews before buying.
• Check & compare photos closely: Selling fake replicas of an authentic product is forbidden according to TikTok Shop, but 'copycat' products are still found for sale to do look at the pictures and description closely before buying.
• Don't feel pressured to buy: Flash sales are common, but don't get caught up in the hype and feel pressured to buy
• Use your credit card instead: For any purchase over £100, pay by credit card for extra valuable protection because TikTok doesn't have a 'Money Back Guarantee'.
• Go compare: Don't always trust 'influencers' – check product prices and reviews elsewhere too to be sure.

Here are some more general tips on how to stay safe while shopping on TikTok:

• Protect your personal information - don't give out your information to strangers.
• Be cautious of unrealistic offers - don't jump into buying a product when it seems too good of a deal.
• Reverse image search - verify authenticity of products by doing a reverse image search.
• Stick to messaging on TikTok - if you are speaking to the seller, make sure you stay on TikTok rather then speaking via another means.

Why are products on TikTok Shop so cheap?

Some buyers have noticed that many products on TikTok Shop come at a decent price.

This is due to new customers often being offered discount codes for their first purchases.

It has also been reported that TikTok charges a smaller commission rate than other sites which some sellers pass onto their customers.

A spokesperson from Which? said: "This is partly because the social media app funds promotions to lure in customers and boost new sellers’ sales.

"New customers are offered special deals, coupons and free delivery on their first order. It's also a marketing tactic: users often post videos about their amazing bargains.

"TikTok also charges a lower commission rate than Amazon and eBay and some sellers pass this saving onto their customers."

"Lots of brands and retailers do flash deals or sales that are exclusive to TikTok in the hope of attracting customers and going viral."