T W.

I have never used AliExpress before. However, it turns out someone who stole my identity, used my information to create an AliExpress account. AliExpress is picking up that non-me account and insisting I verify my identity with a phone number. Part of what got me into trouble before is that one one my accounts had my phone number, etc in it and the thief harvested that data to steal my identity. Unfortunately, there's no way to reach the AliExpress customer service to straighten things out without verifying my identity. And round and round we go.

I've learned that a company that you can't get ahold of if you can't login, is also one that you can't reach when an ID thief who knows what they're doing has stolen your account. Buyer beware.