Shein shoppers have been urged to look out for 'warning signs' in emails ahead of expected onslaught of customer scams.
Patrons of the Chinese retailer have been urged to remain vigilant when opening emails from the brand, warning that that a recent surge in scams could put unsuspecting shoppers at risk of being stripped of cash.
The budget retailer - which was founded in 2008 - has recently become a platform used by a number of scammers.
Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Generator said shoppers should watch out for 'red flags' to stop themselves becoming victim of cunning online fraudsters.
Attempting to entice online criminals have been sending customers of the discount store emails with Shein Mystery to cajole them into clicking onto unknown links.
'If you receive an email with a 'Shein mystery box,' do not open it. It is a phishing email, not from Shein but from unidentified hackers looking to steal your personal information,' he told the The Mirror.
A phishing email is a deceptive email designed to trick people into offering out their personal information or giving access to their cash.
Marc explained that the emails were: 'Designed to trick recipients into clicking on a link that redirects them to a fake website, this website mimics Shein's official website, allowing users to enter their personal information to win a prize.'
To avoid discouraging customers from purchasing genuine mystery boxes - which Shein frequently sends its shoppers - Marc reassured people that they can still trust boxes directly from the brand.
He said: 'Whilst Shein does offer legitimate mystery boxes during promotions or special events, the way to know if they are legitimate is to recognise the website you are directed to.'
As well as warning against phish emails, Marc also encouraged shoppers to keep their eyes peeled for counterfeit posing as the real company to dupe unwitting victims.
Hoping to save innocent shoppers from handing over their precious pennies, Marc offered advice on how customers can avoid falling for fake website posing as the real brand.
He said shoppers should look out for unusual domain names, such as those that appear as variations on the official site (shein.com).
He also said customers should look for a legitimate contact page from the and ensure company addresses, customer service and employee information as counterfeit sites tend not to have these.
Poorly edited images with watermarks or low resolutions are also a telltale sign that a website might not be what it seems.
The price point can also be a giveaway. If prices are drastically cheaper than Shein's actual website - or as much as 50 per cent - customers should take caution.
Another obvious sign that something might not be legitimate is if it has spelling and grammatical errors dotted across the website or email.
Shoppers should also ensure that they secure checkout measures like 'https', URLs and lock icons are present before handing over credit card information.
Marc also said: 'When speaking with customer service at Shein, it is important never to share any personal or payment information via phone call, text message, or WhatsApp. Shein only uses email and in-site chat for customer service.'
With more than 500 million downloads on Google Play Store alone, dozens of tricksters have been banking in onthe popularity of Shein, using increasingly elaborate schemes to snatch cash.
And if worst does come to worst and a shopper mistakenly falls victim to a scam, he urged them to act fast to avoid losing their money.
'Immediately contact your bank or payment provider to stop any pending transactions and explain you have paid a scam website impersonating Shein. You can then dispute the charges as fraud.'
'Ensure you check your credit card statements and bank account closely for any unauthorised charges from the fake website and report any if so. Contact the legit Shein customer support using the number on their official website to flag the fake website.'
It comes after the news that a number of Christmas markets have been purchasing goods from budget brands like Amazon, Shein and Temu, and selling them on to unsuspecting bespoke buyers for a profit.
Consumer complaints have taken a common thread, with some saying that for every artisan seller you find, there's another type of vendor, selling 'overpriced tat' - including merchandise that might have been picked up online via sites including Amazon, Shein, Temu and Etsy.
Others have complained that the markets themselves are sparse, with little to peruse - and overpriced food items.
One TikTok user, @laura_leannne14 recently took to the platform to share a video of her trip to Glasgow Fort Market.
Accompanying her video, she shared a caption that said: 'I popped into the Fort today looking forward to having a nosey around the stalls, to my disappointment there was barely anything.'
Among the few items shown in the clip was a stall selling 'personalised' ornaments for a staggering £12 a piece.
Similar pieces can be snapped up online via sites like Not on the High Street starting at around just £3.