Shopping on TikTok is now preferred by many users over other online shopping methods.
The TikTok Shop really offers many quality products at a more affordable price. However, you need to remember that scammers are also taking advantage of it.
Is Shopping on TikTok Safe?
Decorative face masks to cover the nose and mouth which are being worn across the world to help fight the spread of the novel coronavirus, Covid-19, are on sale in a store, one reading Tik Tok a popular internet platform, in Nantes, western France, on January 14, 2021.
If you are a daily TikTok user, then you will notice that many videos are about useful products that can be purchased at the lowest prices.
Some TikTokers use their creativity to make the videos look like something else, but in the end, they are actually selling their items.
Many use funny skits and others use their daily life to explain how the product helps them with their tasks and hobbies.
Glamour reported that the TikTok shop is a success; with over 47 billion views of the #tiktokmademebuyit.
This just shows that billions of people are becoming more obsessed with shopping on TikTok. There are many reasons why this happens.
First is the very entertaining content of sellers and the second one is that TikTok is like a one-tap-shopping platform.
Unlike Amazon or Facebook Marketplace, TikTok no longer requires you to interrupt your scrolling just to buy an item.
All you have to do is click the buy button and you're all good to go. Some experts said that this could lead to online shopping addiction because of TikTok Shop's quality products and affordable prices.
Another problem with the TikTok Shop is that scammers and other online criminals are taking advantage of its large audience.
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Shopping on TikTok the Smart and Safe Way
An Indian mobile user browses through the Chinese-owned video-sharing 'Tik Tok' app on a smartphone in Bangalore on June 30, 2020. - TikTok on June 30 denied sharing information on Indian users with the Chinese government, after New Delhi banned the wildly popular app citing national security and privacy concerns.
The Washington Post provided some effective tips on how to shop on TikTok smartly and safely. These include the following:
Avoid Buying Products Used for Body
TikTok offers lots of products, even those that are used for the skin, as well as consumables. But, since it is hard to determine if the sellers are really experts with these products, it is better to avoid them to avoid risks.
Check if the TikToker's Expertise Match Their Products
Before buying an item, check other content on TikTok to see if their expertise matches their offered products. If they sell makeup, but post more about gaming, then look for another seller.
Check for Comments
If the TikToker turns off their comment section on videos about their products, there's a chance it is a scam. This is because they are trying to prevent other buyers from providing negative feedback.
Aside from these tips, here are other things you need to do to avoid getting scammed:
- Check the feedback on Amazon and other online shopping sites if the product is available there.
- Before purchasing an item, know the return policies first.
- Check if the seller has a lot of followers to see if other users trust them.
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