Sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok used to be places where you shared events with your friends and family or followed the latest clips from your favorite influencers. Now, in addition to that, social media has become a place where you can shop. The vast majority of transactions on TikTok Shop or Facebook Marketplace are just like many other online purchases. However, the scale and reach of social media mean these sites are also becoming popular channels for scammers, with the FTC reporting that consumers lost $2.1 billion to social media shopping scams in 2025. Like many other scams, there are a number of red flags that consumers should be aware of before purchasing items via these social selling sites. Key Insights Social media shopping scams often look legitimate. It’s only after paying that you realize something is wrong. Missing orders and questionable courier tracking links are recurring warning signs that you’ve been scammed. Acting quickly can improve your chances of limiting the financial impact of the scam. Why Does Social Media Shopping Feel Safe Until Something Goes Wrong? It’s the familiarity of social media sites that makes them feel so safe. Marketplace scam or fake TikTok Shop order might look like any other transaction, and that’s what makes them so dangerous. Scammers seek to use this familiarity, along with other tactics such as posing as legitimate brands or offering low prices to encourage impulse purchases and quick buying decisions. As promoting impulse purchases is very much “the norm” with legitimate sellers on social platforms, scammers will often mirror this behavior in social media scam ads, making it all too easy for consumers to buy quickly and regret the decision later. The Setup: Familiar Platforms, Low Prices, and Quick Decisions It is very easy for scammers to appear legitimate on social media platforms. Scammers often use professional product photos and familiar brand logos. They will also deploy credible-looking reviews, alongside countdown deals, and low prices to encourage quick buying decisions. The Turn: When a Normal Order Starts Looking Suspicious It’s not until the consumer has paid for a product that things start to look more suspicious. Confirmation details from the scam retailer may be vague or non-existent. Order tracking might not work. Customer support may not respond to calls or emails. Tellingly, the sellers may start demanding additional payments before delivering the package. The above scenario was reported to PissedConsumer as a scam involving a transaction initiated on TikTok Shop that later moved to Telegram. They send you a tracking number after you pay... until the shipment gets put on hold and they ask for more money to proceed. Any demands for additional money to release a “held” package should be viewed as a serious red flag. Report a scam What Red Flags Should You Look for Before Paying? Typical red flags of social media shopping scams include: A very low price that is not typically available from established brands and familiar retailers. An ad purporting to come from a recognized and trusted brand that directs consumers to an unfamiliar website or asks to complete the transaction on a different platform. The seller pressures consumers to act immediately or miss out on the promotion. Consumers are asked to make payments using unusual methods (such as wire transfers for crypto) with limited or no protection. Shipping information is vague or confusing, or delivery schedules seem particularly long. The moment you spot one of these scam signs, stop whatever you are doing and do not continue with the transaction. What Usually Happens After Payment Goes Through? While not every missing delivery or customer service complaint is evidence of a scam, several patterns are regularly highlighted in consumer reviews on PissedConsumer. These include: Goods not arriving: The most common outcome of social media shopping scams. The consumer sends money to a scammer and receives nothing in return. Tracking numbers that don’t work: A fake tracking number will often make an online purchase seem legitimate, but in reality, they buy the scammer time to take the money and disappear. The wrong goods arrive: Consumers may receive fake branded goods or goods of a lower value than the order placed. What Should You Do If a Social Media Order Starts Going Sideways? The moment you become suspicious that they have fallen victim to an online shopping scam, it’s important to start documenting the transaction: Take screenshots of the scammer's original ad, product page, profile, and any order confirmation, tracking numbers, and messages. Retain receipts, payment information, and any promised delivery schedules. Check tracking directly through the named carrier’s legitimate site and not by using any potentially spoofed links in the scammers' communications. Report any suspicious activity, seller accounts, or advertisements to the social media platform. Contact your bank promptly to inquire about options for disputing or canceling the transaction. Report any suspected fraudulent activities to the appropriate consumer protection organizations. Consumers should be particularly cautious if they receive a follow-up text message stating that there is a delivery problem and demanding an additional payment. How Can You Shop More Safely on Social Media? Before buying from any unfamiliar retailer via social media or online in general, it is wise to spend some time researching the business. To help you get started, PissedConsumer has a guide on how to spot a fake online store and an overview of 2026 scam trends. Simple safety steps include: Compare prices with established sellers first. If a famous brand or popular product is being offered at a heavily discounted price, ask why. Don’t allow automatic transfer to an unfamiliar platform. If you suddenly find yourself on an unknown website, do not continue with the transaction. Check the retailer’s contact details, delivery terms, returns policy, and independent reviews. Are they clear and concise? If not, don’t take the risk. Search for the company's name alongside terms such as scam or complaint before buying. Share Your Experience and Warn Others If you’ve been a victim of a social media shopping scam, don’t forget to document the experience and share it with others. Reporting a scam on PissedConsumer can help make recurring patterns more visible and give other consumers more information to stay safe and avoid falling victim to scammers. Report a scam