For years I have been getting emails encouraging me to purchase items safely through Alibaba and Aliexpress. After research, I decided to go ahead, as it sounded ideal. They will not release payment to the seller until you have received the merchandise safely. So after browsing, shopping and attempting to communicate with some sellers, I placed an order. I contacted the bank that issued the credit card to release the restriction on international purchases. Everything appeared fine, and my bank confirmed that the payment was authorized.
24 hours later I received an email from Alibaba stating that "my order has been closed for security reasons." Huh? I didn't understand why, so I finally found the area where I could "file a claim" and "appeal" this decision. Again, keep in mind that my bank approved the payment, and I also called to verify this. According to Alibaba, if you do not appeal, the funds will be held for 10-30 days while an "investigation" is conducted, OR I can send copies of both sides of my credit card, my credit card statement AND my passport.
Sorry, evidently it was stupid of me to order from you in the first place, but I am not that stupid that I will give you every document needed to steal my identity. I own a business and often get business supplies from around the world, and I have never had this or any problem. So in a nutshell: Alibaba emails you every day saying how secure and wonderful it is, you believe them and place an order, funds are transmitted, Alibaba shuts down the order, tying up your money if not just keeping it, as I do not have access to it yet, and then, with the funds and order as a hostage, they ask for extremely personal identification that we are basically told from birth never to give out. Hmmm. I have to assume all of their reviews are bogus too.
Quite an enterprise, and even though now I am embarrassed, this information must be shared with other people and business owners in all selling and wholesale forums and communities. Shame on you!
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