A Customer Bought Hair Products from Shopee But Got a Fake Samsung Phone Instead

A disheartening experience was recently shared by a Filipino shopper on Reddit, causing significant concern and dismay regarding their online shopping experience. The post comes from a Redditor, who recounted how a sudden problem arose with an order they placed on Shopee, a popular online marketplace in the Philippines.

According to their post, their mother ordered hair care products from the official L’Oreal Professionnel store on Shopee. The products purchased included Serioxyl Advanced serum, a well-known L’Oreal product used to strengthen and improve hair condition. The total value of the order was over ₱2,400, and they chose to pay via Cash on Delivery (COD), a common payment method in the Philippines that allows consumers to pay once they receive their purchased items.

On December 3, 2025, they received the parcel and immediately opened it. Unfortunately, their family was shocked to find that the contents of the parcel were a fake Samsung mobile phone, instead of the hair products they had ordered. Their mother was supposed to record an unboxing video, but they didn’t, so there was no evidence to show that the parcel’s contents were indeed wrong.

The user immediately filed a complaint with Shopee to claim their refund and report the incident. They confirmed that they are regular shoppers at the official L’Oreal store and trust their products.

The Big Question: How Did This Happen?

Despite being an official store, why did such an incident occur? Many netizens say that this may be a case of a scam or fake products being smuggled into a legitimate store. Such incidents are becoming a major challenge in online shopping in the Philippines, where fake products often spread and slip through official platforms.

This is a reminder to all online shoppers to be critical and careful with every purchase. Documentation such as video or photos while opening the parcel is important to avoid such problems. You should also report to the platform immediately if you encounter fake products or incorrect contents in your order.

This experience serves as a warning to everyone that even in well-known online stores, there is still a possibility of encountering fake products or scams. Being critical, cautious, and prepared for such incidents is important to protect our rights as consumers. Despite this, consumers continue to strive to maintain their trust in online shopping and fight for their rights when they experience such problems.