TIKTOK SHOP, KPDN UNVEIL #SHOPSAFE TIPS TO COMBAT ONLINE SCAMS

KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 (Bernama) -- TikTok Shop, a trusted e-commerce platform in Malaysia, has joined forces with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) to strengthen consumer awareness and safety in the digital marketplace through its #ShopSafe campaign.

The initiative, aimed at tackling online scams and educating consumers, highlights practical safety tips for Malaysians as online shopping becomes increasingly common.

Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said the ministry welcomes the partnership with TikTok Shop in educating the public on safe digital practices.

“We are delighted to partner with TikTok Shop to educate Malaysians on best practices when shopping online and to empower them with the right knowledge and tools to #ShopSafe digitally.

“We have found that a large majority of reported e-commerce scams were conducted outside of legitimate online shopping platforms and apps, where bad actors redirect consumers off-platform to complete transactions, either through phone numbers, suspicious links, or direct debits.

“TikTok Shop's dedication to championing the rights and safety of consumers is commendable, and we look forward to combating online scams together,” he said in a statement.

TikTok Shop Malaysia’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, Nur Azre Abdul Aziz, reiterated the platform’s commitment to user safety, describing it as the company’s highest priority.

“Safety is our top priority at TikTok Shop. We continuously invest in people and technologies for Malaysians to enjoy worry-free and secure online shopping experiences, such as through our robust return and refund policies,” she said.

She added that the platform actively monitors and prevents fraudulent activity through strict enforcement of listing and registration guidelines, as well as rejecting suspicious sellers and product listings.

“Combating online scams is a collaborative effort and we are immensely thankful to KPDN for their support in educating Malaysians on our #ShopSafe tips. Together, we can keep our community informed and up to date on new scam trends, along with ways to safeguard each other against it,” she said.

The #ShopSafe campaign encourages users to conduct all transactions within TikTok Shop’s official app, using only secure in-app payment systems. 

This ensures that purchases remain traceable and protected under TikTok Shop’s platform policies, including its authenticity guarantees and product verification systems.

Consumers are also advised to avoid downloading the app from unofficial sources or clicking on suspicious links that may lead to scams such as phishing or malware.

In addition, the platform urges consumers not to share sensitive personal information — including passwords, security codes, or payment details — with anyone, even those claiming to be representatives of TikTok Shop.

The company stressed that it never requests such data through direct messages, phone calls, or emails. Users are also encouraged to activate two-step verification for added security.

To further safeguard the platform, TikTok Shop allows users to report suspicious behaviour, sellers or products directly via the in-app reporting function.

Users can also reach out to live agents via the Help Centre for any assistance related to their orders, including after-sales matters supported by the platform’s return and refund policies.

For more information, visit https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktokshop_my.

-- BERNAMA