Shein rose quickly in the fashion world by pumping out trend-driven pieces at lightning speed while keeping prices low. But behind its flashy website and sleek app, one question lingers: is Shein safe?
If you’re asking, you’re off to the right start. As a savvy shopper, it’s smart to know the risks and take the necessary precautions. So, let’s break down whether Shein can be trusted, the potential risks, and ways to stay safe while shopping for the season’s hottest pieces.
What is Shein?
Shein is an online fashion and lifestyle retailer known for its super-cheap prices and extensive selection. Think $3 tops, $5 bottoms, and an extensive catalog that’s updated daily.
Founded in Nanjing, China, in 2008, Shein has since moved its headquarters to Singapore, though its supply chains and warehouses remain in China. The online retail giant primarily focuses on women’s clothing, but also offers men’s apparel, kids’ wear, accessories, and even home goods.
Shein’s growth has been nothing short of explosive — especially in the US. In 2024, its e-commerce sales there hit $19 billion, making it one of the leading platforms in the fast-fashion market. It also topped the charts as the most downloaded fashion and beauty shopping app that year.
So, what’s driving Shein’s eye-popping numbers? Well, a handful of reasons stand out:
- Extremely low prices: clothes, accessories, and other products all cost far less than most traditional retailers;
- Huge selection: thousands of new items drop daily, from everyday basics to the latest micro-trends;
- Trend-focused approach: Shein is quick to recreate runway, celebrity, and TikTok-inspired looks — sometimes within hours and at budget-friendly prices;
- Frequent discounts: nonstop sales, promo codes, and flash deals make already low prices even more enticing.
Is Shein safe?
The short answer is yes, Shein is generally safe. Most shoppers can use Shein without running into any major problems. It’s one of the largest fast-fashion retailers out there, with millions of customers worldwide.
Unlike dodgy sites that take your cash and vanish without a trace, Shein ships what you order. Sure, quality can be hit-or-miss, but most customers get what they paid for. The company also offers several customer service channels and a fairly generous return policy — you can return most items within 30 days.
On the payment side, Shein accepts standard, trusted methods like credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay. These come with fraud protection, and all transactions are encrypted — offering an additional safety net for shoppers.
That said, Shein isn’t without its drawbacks — just like any big online retailer. The site relies heavily on pop-ups, collects user data, and sometimes bombards you with tracking requests. These practices aren’t unusual in e-commerce, but they do mean that you shouldn’t let your guard down.
Is the Shein website safe?
When you shop on Shein’s website from a computer, most of the risks are similar to those of any large e-commerce site.
Still, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Pop-ups and prompts: Shein’s desktop site can feel spammy, with dozens of pop-ups for discounts, sign-ups, and app downloads;
- Data collection: your clicks, searches, and even abandoned carts get tracked to personalize recommendations;
- Payment safety: your credit card and PayPal transactions are encrypted, though it’s still best not to store your card info in your account.
Is the Shein app safe?
The Shein mobile app makes shopping faster and easier. But that convenience comes with a few privacy and security trade-offs.
Here’s what you need to know:
- App experience: the app requests broad permissions — more than some retailers — like access to photos, camera, and location, but they’re mostly to power its in-app features;
- Security updates: like any app, you need to keep Shein updated to have the latest security patches;
- Push notifications: Shein’s app frequently sends alerts about discounts, order updates, and promotions — useful for some, intrusive for others.
Why is Shein controversial?
Even as Shein dominates fast fashion, some of its practices continue to draw scrutiny and criticism. Let’s take a closer look at the hot-button issues.
Fast fashion and overconsumption
Shein follows a rapid-turnover model — churning out thousands of new designs weekly and adding as many as 10,000 items to its site each day. It reportedly offers around 600,000 items at any given time, though the company declines to confirm these numbers. This breakneck pace creates huge amounts of textile waste and fuels a throwaway clothing culture.
Shein also faces accusations of promoting overconsumption among shoppers. Critics say it uses “deceptive techniques” like fake discounts, infinite scrolling, and false purchase deadlines to push consumers into buying more than intended.
Environmental footprint
According to a report from environmental organization Stand.earth, Shein’s absolute emissions jumped over 170% in just two years. The company’s annual emissions are now on par with what you’d see from an actual nation. Part of this comes from Shein’s fast-to-market strategy, flying packages directly to consumers rather than using surface or marine transportation.
Transportation aside, the materials the company uses add to the problem. Most Shein clothes are made from synthetic fabrics like polyester and rayon, which aren’t biodegradable. Worse, they also shed microplastics into the water each time you wash them.
Labor concerns
Investigative reports have found that many workers in Shein’s supply chain are paid very low wages and work long hours in unsafe conditions, with standard shifts running from 8:00 a.m. to well past 10:00 p.m. Some reports even raise concerns about child labor in the supply chain.
Shein, on the other hand, maintains that all its suppliers are required to sign its Supplier Code of Conduct. This prohibits forced and child labor, wage and working hour abuses, and employee discrimination and harassment. The company also highlights that it regularly conducts supplier audits through third-party agencies such as Bureau Veritas, Intertek, and Openview.
Intellectual property issues
For years, small brands and independent creators have accused Shein of ripping off their work — reproducing their artwork and clothing designs and selling them as its own. In one class-action lawsuit, an artist claimed that Shein even uses data scraping and electronic monitoring to identify trending designs before reproducing them.
More recently, established brands have raised similar concerns. For example, Coach filed a complaint stating that Shein manufactures, advertises, and sells “knockoff products to consumers on a global scale.” Meanwhile, Brandy Melville said that Shein copies its clothing designs and marketing photos.
Product safety and quality
Many Shein shoppers have shared that the clothing caused rashes, hives, or skin irritation. These reactions are often associated with harsh dyes, low-quality fabrics, or chemicals such as formaldehyde.
Adding to these concerns, the Seoul Metropolitan Government found that several Shein products, including kids’ shoes, contained high levels of phthalates. These chemicals can disrupt hormones and have been linked to obesity, heart disease, certain cancers, and fertility problems. Out of 93 products tested, nearly half contained toxic substances.
How safe is Shein for your data?
Shein might be gentle on your wallet, but your data can still take a hit — just like with any online shopping site. Below are some of the main risks you should know about.
Data breaches
Shein has had a few data security hiccups over the years, the most notable one being a 2018 breach involving its parent company, Zoetop. Hackers stole sensitive information from Shein accounts — names, passwords, and even credit card details — and sold it online.
Initially, Zoetop reported that only 6.42 million accounts were affected and didn’t notify most users. Authorities later found that the breach actually compromised 39 million Shein accounts. In 2022, the New York Attorney General fined the company $1.9 million for mishandling the incident.
Data collection and privacy risks
Shein’s data collection has long been a point of contention. According to its privacy policy, the company gathers a significant amount of personal info, including contact details, financial data, and device information. While extensive, this level of collection is fairly routine for e-commerce platforms.
Where privacy gets murky is with the Shein app’s optional permissions. Features like photo uploads and calendar syncing require access to your camera, storage, location, and more — far beyond what most retail apps request. Even though you must explicitly allow these permissions, they still give the app access to much more of your personal data than you might expect.
Payment protection
When it comes to payments, Shein employs industry-standard security measures. Its website and app run on HTTPS encryption to keep your payment and other sensitive details safe. It’s also PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant.
That said, there have been reports of phishing, where scammers send fraudulent emails pretending to be Shein. These messages often promise prizes or giveaways to trick you into revealing your financial info or entering payment details on bogus sites.
For instance, the Shein Mystery Box scam claims you’ve won a prize, but clicking the link to collect it takes you to a fake site that captures your personal and payment information.
Cybersecurity risks
There are also some risks that aren’t unique to Shein, but are still worth keeping in mind when you’re shopping on the platform. The biggest one is using public or unsecured Wi-Fi when accessing Shein.
On these networks, you could face:
- Data interception: hackers can capture the data sent between your device and Shein’s servers;
- MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) attacks: hackers can intercept and alter the communication between your device and Shein, like redirecting you to a fake login page;
- Session hijacking: attackers can take over your active session and access your Shein account.
How to shop safely on Shein
A few simple steps go a long way. Here’s how to help keep your data safe when you’re shopping on Shein or any other online store.
Check reviews
Before adding a product to your cart, take time to go through the reviews carefully. Don’t rely solely on the ones on Shein’s platform — dig through Reddit and other independent forums, too. Beyond product quality, pay attention to warnings about delayed shipping, payment, or issues with returns and refunds.
Watch out for fake Shein websites
Shop only on the official Shein website. There are plenty of fake Shein sites out there, and they often look very convincing — even copying the logo and layout. So, check the URL carefully and make sure there are no misspellings.
If you’re on mobile, download the app only from official app stores.
Understand Shein’s privacy policy
Get familiar with Shein’s privacy policy. It lays out exactly what information the platform collects, how Shein uses it, and who it may share your info with.
Understanding the policy can help you identify potential privacy risks, limit unnecessary data sharing, and decide if shopping on Shein is worth the data you give up.
Choose secure payment methods
When shopping on Shein, stick to trusted payment options like credit cards, PayPal, or digital wallets.
These methods encrypt your data to keep your payment details safe, even if Shein or its payment processor suffers a breach. They also offer fraud protection, so you can dispute and reverse any unauthorized charges.
Protect yourself with a VPN
A reliable VPN (Virtual Private Network) like Surfshark VPN can add a crucial extra layer of security when you’re shopping on Shein.
Here’s how it can help:
- Encrypts your internet connection so hackers can’t intercept your personal and payment information or alter your communication with Shein’s servers — especially on public Wi-Fi;
- Hides your real IP (Internet Protocol) address to prevent Shein, attackers, or other third parties from tracking your exact location;
- Keeps your surfing and shopping habits private from advertisers and other eavesdroppers.
Additionally, Surfshark’s Alternative ID lets you create a fully customizable online persona, complete with a separate email address. You can then use this persona to set up your Shein account while keeping your personal information private.
Stay safe on Shein
Generally, Shein is a safe platform for snagging trendy pieces at bargain prices. That said, it’s not without its risks — just like shopping on Temu, Amazon, and other major online retailers. Data breaches, extensive data collection, and phishing scams can all leave your personal info more vulnerable than you realize.
To stay safe, check reviews thoroughly and watch out for fake Shein sites. Get to know its privacy policy so you understand how it handles your data. Additionally, take advantage of tools to strengthen your data protection. For an all-in-one cybersecurity solution that includes a VPN, Alternative ID, and more, check out the Surfshark One bundle.
FAQ
Is Shein a legit company or a scam?
Shein is a legit company, not a scam. The global fashion powerhouse fulfills millions of orders worldwide and maintains a strong online presence. While there are concerns about its product quality, data privacy, and more, these issues don’t necessarily make it a scam.
Is Shein a safe website to buy from?
Yes, Shein is typically considered a safe website to buy from. Millions of users regularly shop and receive their orders without any major problems. Additionally, the platform has clear return and refund policies.
That said, Shein has faced controversies over its labor practices, data collection, product quality, and more. It’s a good idea to keep these concerns in mind and do your research before buying.
Is it safe to use my credit card on Shein?
Yes, it’s generally safe to use your credit card on Shein as the site uses standard encryption and secure payment gateways to protect your information. To add another layer of security, you can also use a VPN — especially when you’re on public or unsecured Wi-Fi — to make sure no one intercepts your data.
Does Shein protect my personal and payment information?
Yes, Shein does protect your personal and payment information using standard security measures like encryption and secure payment gateways. It also complies with data privacy regulations.
However, no system is 100% foolproof. So you should still use a VPN to encrypt your connection and hide your IP, preventing hackers from snooping on your data.
Has Shein ever had a data breach?
Yes, Shein experienced a data breach in June 2018. Hackers targeted Zoetop (its parent company) and stole login details for 39 million Shein accounts. The platform initially downplayed the breach and notified just a small portion of affected users. Shein later got hit with a $1.9 million fine for its handling of the breach.
Is the Shein app safe to install on my phone?
Yes, the Shein app is generally safe to install on your phone if you take a few precautions. Review the app’s permissions, keep the app updated, and avoid clicking on suspicious links or pop-ups. For extra protection, stack your defenses with Surfshark VPN to encrypt your connection and shield your data on unsecured Wi-Fi.
Is Shein banned in any countries?
Shein was banned in India in June 2020 due to privacy and national security concerns amid escalating tensions with China. Still, other platforms continued selling Shein-branded products. In 2025, Shein re-entered the Indian market through a deal with Reliance Retail, which now exercises full control over operations.
