Have you seen those social media ads offering $750 Shein gift cards in exchange for reviewing products? At first glance, it seems like an amazing opportunity to score free clothes and make easy money from home. But is this viral deal from “Shein Product Testers” too good to be true?
Read on to uncover the truth behind these online offers making big promises of rewards just for giving your opinion on the latest clothing and accessory hauls…
An In-Depth Look at the Shein Reviewer Scam
A clever social media scam promises big rewards like gift cards and free clothes to unsuspecting Shein shoppers willing to review products as a Shein “Product Tester.” But the tantalizing chance is an elaborate hoax.
The offers typically promote an exclusive opportunity to earn up to $750 in Shein gift cards simply by testing and reviewing new styles as they are released. Some versions even claim you can keep all the clothes tested for free as an extra perk.
To lure in victims, the social ads copy Shein’s branding and imagery to appear credible. Enticing headlines invite shoppers to click on links leading to sophisticated fake websites dressed up to precisely mimic Shein’s real online store.
On these fraudulent sites, users are prompted to enter their name, email address and contact details to register as a product tester, thinking this will start the process of receiving free items from Shein to evaluate. In reality, it just gives scammers personally identifiable data to target victims moving forward.
Right after individuals submit their information to the bogus sites, they receive phishing emails crafted to appear as official Shein Tester communications. These messages provide instructions to complete additional steps before any rewards can supposedly be redeemed.
The emails direct recipients to various outside websites and offers deceptively labeled as “Free Trial Signups,” “Survey Completion,” “Download Required App,” or similar activities.
Users must complete 2-3 of these offers before their $750 gift card can be unlocked, or so the scam emails claim. Examples of specific phony offers reported include:
Paid survey companies like SurveySparrow, SurveySensum, etc.
Suspicious downloads like VPN browser extensions
Free trial subscriptions for products unrelated to fashion/clothing
Requests to enter credit card or banking details to “pre-qualify”
Phone verification via text message services that auto-bill
In reality, these outside websites have nothing to do with Shein or verifying product testers. They are simply affiliate offers or hooks to expose visitors to malware, unwanted recurring charges, data harvesting, or other profit-driving scams.
Despite completing all requested steps, no rewards are ever received from Shein. The company has confirmed they are not currently operating any product tester panel programs, nor would they partner with random third-party websites as claimed by the scam offers.
Unfortunately, the professional branding and website cloning of this phishing scam tricks many people into believing it’s a legitimate opportunity endorsed by Shein. But the fake gift cards, free clothes hauls, and $750 payouts simply don’t exist.
Shein is actively working to detect and pursue legal action against scammers using their name to propagate fake rewards offers. But consumers must also exercise caution around schemes promising easy money or free products with little oversight. If an offer appears rife with red flags, your best bet is avoiding engagement entirely.
How the Shein Reviewer Scam Fools Users Step-by-Step
Here’s an inside look at the tactics scammers use at each step of this viral con:
Step 1: Deceptive Social Media Ads
The scam starts with ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. Using Shein’s fonts and photos, they promote a special chance to earn $750 gift cards by reviewing new arrivals as a Shein “Product Tester.”
Some ads have fake reviews from satisfied testers. Others emphasize “LIMITED SPOTS!” or “24 HOURS ONLY!” to create false urgency and convince people to click through before thinking critically.
Step 2: Fake Shein Reviewer Website
Clicking the link in the ads takes users to counterfeit Shein websites made to precisely mimic the look and feel of the real Shein site.
While the URL may be slightly altered to include “review” or “producttest”, everything else from the logo to the product imagery is copied to dupe visitors into thinking they’re in the official tester portal.
Step 3: Submit Email to Register
On the fake site, users are prompted to enter their name, email address and contact details under the guise of registering as a tester.
In reality, this just gives scammers personally identifiable info and an email address to target victims moving forward.
Step 4: Phishing Emails Lead to Bogus Offers
Almost instantly after registering, victims receive crafted emails made to look like official Shein Tester communications.
These messages provide further instructions to complete 2-3 outside offers from their “Authorized Partners” before any rewards can be redeemed.
Step 5: Downloads, Trials and Surveys
The emails direct recipients to various websites under the guise of Survey Completion, Downloading Required Apps, Free Trial Signups, etc.
In reality, these sites have nothing to do with Shein. They’re simply affiliate offers designed to expose visitors to malware, unwanted charges, data harvesting, or other ploys to profit.
Step 6: No Rewards Ever Given
Despite jumping through all the scam’s hoops, no Shein gift cards or free product hauls ever arrive. Shein confirms they are not running any reviewer programs or authorizing third-parties to distribute rewards on their behalf.
The phishers bank on the small percentage who engage with their sham offers so they still profit from stolen data, downloads, referrals and subscription fees. Don’t become their next mark.
Spotting Red Flags of the Fake Shein Reviewer Offers
Despite the convincing presentation, certain red flags reveal these offers are 100% fake:
Bogus web domains – Shein’s real site is shein.com. Other variations are imitations.
Requesting personal info upfront – A real company would not ask for data before vetting reviewers.
Affiliate offers and downloads – Legit rewards programs don’t funnel you to outside subscription services.
Overly pushy or urgent language – This manufactures false scarcity to short-circuit critical thinking.
Vaguely referenced rewards – Details would be explicit if offers were real.
When scrutinized objectively, the scam’s real goal becomes obvious: steal data and drive affiliate conversions—not provide free products or gift cards. Listen to your instincts.
Steps to Take if You Shared Your Information
If you already supplied any personal information or engaged with the fake offers, immediately take these steps:
Contact Shein to report the scam misusing their brand. Provide details that could help pursue legal action.
Mark scam emails as phishing/spam to train your email’s filter. Prevents future scam messages from coming through.
Run anti-virus and malware scans on all devices that visited scam sites or downloaded files. Delete anything suspicious.
Place fraud alerts with credit bureaus and monitor statements closely for unauthorized charges.
Change passwords on any sites accessed through the scam offers. Opt for strong, unique passwords for all important accounts.
Act swiftly to cancel recurring fees or charges from any “free trial” subscriptions signed up for. Alert your payment provider of potential fraud.
Never supply additional personal information if scammers attempt to contact you again.
Is Your Device Infected? Scan for Malware
If your computer or phone is slow, showing unwanted pop-ups, or acting strangely, malware could be the cause. Running a scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free is one of the most reliable ways to detect and remove harmful software. The free version can identify and clean common infections such as adware, browser hijackers, trojans, and other unwanted programs.
Malwarebytes works on Windows, Mac, and Android devices. Choose your operating system below and follow the steps to scan your device and remove any malware that might be slowing it down.
Malwarebytes for WindowsMalwarebytes for MacMalwarebytes for Android
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Windows
Malwarebytes stands out as one of the leading and widely-used anti-malware solutions for Windows, and for good reason. It effectively eradicates various types of malware that other programs often overlook, all at no cost to you. When it comes to disinfecting an infected device, Malwarebytes has consistently been a free and indispensable tool in the battle against malware. We highly recommend it for maintaining a clean and secure system.
Download Malwarebytes
Download the latest version of Malwarebytes for Windows using the official link below. Malwarebytes will scan your computer and remove adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious software for free.
(The above link will open a new page from where you can download Malwarebytes)
Install Malwarebytes
After the download is complete, locate the MBSetup file, typically found in your Downloads folder. Double-click on the MBSetup file to begin the installation of Malwarebytes on your computer. If a User Account Control pop-up appears, click “Yes” to continue the Malwarebytes installation.
Follow the On-Screen Prompts to Install Malwarebytes
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, the setup wizard will guide you through the process.
You’ll first be prompted to choose the type of computer you’re installing the program on—select either “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer” as appropriate, then click on Next.
Malwarebytes will now begin the installation process on your device.
When the Malwarebytes installation is complete, the program will automatically open to the “Welcome to Malwarebytes” screen.
On the final screen, simply click on the Open Malwarebytes option to start the program.
Enable “Rootkit scanning”.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware will now start, and you will see the main screen as shown below. To maximize Malwarebytes’ ability to detect malware and unwanted programs, we need to enable rootkit scanning. Click on the “Settings” gear icon located on the left of the screen to access the general settings section.
In the settings menu, enable the “Scan for rootkits” option by clicking the toggle switch until it turns blue.
Now that you have enabled rootkit scanning, click on the “Dashboard” button in the left pane to get back to the main screen.
Perform a Scan with Malwarebytes.
To start a scan, click the Scan button. Malwarebytes will automatically update its antivirus database and begin scanning your computer for malicious programs.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now scan your computer for browser hijackers and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Quarantine detected malware
Once the Malwarebytes scan is complete, it will display a list of detected malware, adware, and potentially unwanted programs. To effectively remove these threats, click the “Quarantine” button.
Malwarebytes will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the program’s quarantine.
Restart your computer.
When removing files, Malwarebytes may require a reboot to fully eliminate some threats. If you see a message indicating that a reboot is needed, please allow it. Once your computer has restarted and you are logged back in, you can continue with the remaining steps.
Once the scan completes, remove all detected threats. Your Windows computer should now be clean and running smoothly again, free of trojans, adware, and other malware.
If your current antivirus allowed this malicious program on your computer, you may want to consider purchasing Malwarebytes Premium to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Malwarebytes for Mac is an on-demand scanner that can destroy many types of malware that other software tends to miss without costing you absolutely anything. When it comes to cleaning up an infected device, Malwarebytes has always been free, and we recommend it as an essential tool in the fight against malware.
Download Malwarebytes for Mac.
You can download Malwarebytes for Mac by clicking the link below.
When Malwarebytes has finished downloading, double-click on the setup file to install Malwarebytes on your computer. In most cases, downloaded files are saved to the Downloads folder.
Follow the on-screen prompts to install Malwarebytes.
When the Malwarebytes installation begins, you will see the Malwarebytes for Mac Installer which will guide you through the installation process. Click “Continue“, then keep following the prompts to continue with the installation process.
When your Malwarebytes installation completes, the program opens to the Welcome to Malwarebytes screen. Click the “Get started” button.
Select “Personal Computer” or “Work Computer”.
The Malwarebytes Welcome screen will first ask you what type of computer are you installing this program, click either Personal Computer or Work Computer.
Click on “Scan”.
To scan your computer with Malwarebytes, click on the “Scan” button. Malwarebytes for Mac will automatically update the antivirus database and start scanning your computer for malware.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will scan your computer for adware, browser hijackers, and other malicious programs. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Quarantine”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes has detected. To remove the malware that Malwarebytes has found, click on the “Quarantine” button.
Restart computer.
Malwarebytes will now remove all the malicious files that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your computer.
After scanning, delete any detected threats. Your Mac should now be free from adware, unwanted extensions, and other potentially harmful software.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious program on your computer, you might want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still experiencing problems while trying to remove a malicious program from your computer, please ask for help in our Mac Malware Removal Help & Support forum.
Run a Malware Scan with Malwarebytes for Android
Malwarebytes for Android automatically detects and removes dangerous threats like malware and ransomware so you don’t have to worry about your most-used device being compromised. Aggressive detection of adware and potentially unwanted programs keeps your Android phone or tablet running smooth.
Download Malwarebytes for Android.
You can download Malwarebytes for Android by clicking the link below.
In the Google Play Store, tap “Install” to install Malwarebytes for Android on your device.
When the installation process has finished, tap “Open” to begin using Malwarebytes for Android. You can also open Malwarebytes by tapping on its icon in your phone menu or home screen.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the setup process
When Malwarebytes will open, you will see the Malwarebytes Setup Wizard which will guide you through a series of permissions and other setup options. This is the first of two screens that explain the difference between the Premium and Free versions. Swipe this screen to continue. Tap on “Got it” to proceed to the next step. Malwarebytes for Android will now ask for a set of permissions that are required to scan your device and protect it from malware. Tap on “Give permission” to continue. Tap on “Allow” to permit Malwarebytes to access the files on your phone.
Update database and run a scan with Malwarebytes for Android
You will now be prompted to update the Malwarebytes database and run a full system scan.
Click on “Update database” to update the Malwarebytes for Android definitions to the latest version, then click on “Run full scan” to perform a system scan.
Wait for the Malwarebytes scan to complete.
Malwarebytes will now start scanning your phone for adware and other malicious apps. This process can take a few minutes, so we suggest you do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan to see when it is finished.
Click on “Remove Selected”.
When the scan has been completed, you will be presented with a screen showing the malware infections that Malwarebytes for Android has detected. To remove the malicious apps that Malwarebytes has found, tap on the “Remove Selected” button.
Restart your phone.
Malwarebytes for Android will now remove all the malicious apps that it has found. To complete the malware removal process, Malwarebytes may ask you to restart your device.
When the scan is finished, remove all detected threats. Your Android phone should now be free of malicious apps, adware, and unwanted browser redirects.
If your current antivirus allowed a malicious app on your phone, you may want to consider purchasing the full-featured version of Malwarebytes to protect against these types of threats in the future. If you are still having problems with your phone after completing these instructions, then please follow one of the steps:
Restore your phone to factory settings by going to Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
After cleaning your device, it’s important to protect it from future infections and annoying pop-ups. We recommend installing an ad blocker such as AdGuard. AdGuard blocks malicious ads, prevents phishing attempts, and stops dangerous redirects, helping you stay safe while browsing online.
Outsmarting Scams
Here are some tips to avoid falling for copycat fake reviewer scams:
Verify directly with brands before engaging third-party offers. Don’t rely on ads or messages.
Search online for scam reports about any offer that seems suspicious.
Read all disclaimers/terms carefully before providing info or downloading anything.
Check site URLs for minor variations signaling imitation domains.
Avoid entering sensitive info on unknown third-party websites.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it always is. No exceptions.
Staying vigilant requires work. But spotting scams gets easier with knowledge, critical thinking and common sense on your side.
FAQ About the Fake Shein Reviewer Scam
1. How does the Shein reviewer scam work?
The scam starts with social media ads offering rewards to review Shein products. The ads link to fake sites impersonating Shein. Users submit their email thinking they’ll get free items to review. Then they receive phishing messages guiding them through bogus offers under the guise of “verification”.
2. What tricks do the scammers use?
The ads use Shein branding/images to appear real. The fake sites closely replicate Shein’s design. Messages promise easy gift cards for feedback. Limited time offers create false urgency to bypass critical thinking.
3. What happens after submitting your email?
Soon after registering at the fake site, users get emails claiming more steps are required before Shein rewards can be unlocked. These lead to paid surveys, suspicious downloads, trials, and other profit-driving scams.
4. Do you get a Shein gift card?
No, those who comply with the scam never receive any Shein gift cards, cash, or product hauls. The rewards are completely fictional.
5. How can you recognize the fake offers?
Red flags include unbelievable rewards, grammar/spelling errors, bogus URLs, requests for info upfront, pushy language, vague details, and unverified third-party offers.
6. What if you already shared information?
Place fraud alerts, run security scans, monitor accounts closely, change passwords, cancel any charges, and contact Shein to report the scam immediately. Don’t share more personal data.
7. How can you avoid Shein scams?
Verify offers directly with brands. Search for scam reports online. Read all terms/disclaimers. Check URLs match exactly. Avoid entering info on sketchy sites. Follow instincts if it seems fake.
8. Who is responsible for the scam?
Unknown scammers unaffiliated with Shein. Shein is working to pursue legal action against impersonators misusing their brand.
9. Does Shein offer real rewards programs?
Shein has stated they currently do not offer any official paid tester opportunities or large gift card incentives through third parties.
10. What should you do if you see a suspicious Shein offer?
Shein advises reporting questionable ads, sites, or offers to their customer service team immediately to aid their scam investigation efforts. Do not engage.
The Bottom Line
The promise of easy cash and free clothes for reviewing Shein products sounds great. But in reality, these viral offers only lead to headaches and wasted time at best, or identity theft at worst.
As scammers’ tactics evolve, we must stay educated on their latest schemes. When an unbelievable social media deal pops up, fight the urge to click. Instead, scrutinize the opportunity objectively. Verify directly with brands before providing data or downloading anything. Listen to your instincts—if something seems amiss, close the tab.
A scam revealed is no longer a threat. By exposing these schemes for what they are, we can create a wiser social web rooted in transparency rather than deceit. Stay smart out there.
Thomas is an expert at uncovering scams and providing in-depth reporting on cyber threats and online fraud. As an editor, he is dedicated to keeping readers informed on the latest developments in cybersecurity and tech.
