Group to online shoppers: Pay items via cash-on-delivery to avoid scams

Group to online shoppers: Pay items via cash-on-delivery to avoid scams

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos are encouraged to choose cash-on-delivery payment methods when shopping online. This recommendation is given by group Scam Watch Pilipinas due to the proliferation of shopping scams that target customers on the internet. Scam Watch Pilipinas Co-lead Convenor Art Samaniego Jr. on Monday said this payment option is the best in preventing possible fraud as customers would be able to check the product before paying the seller. When shopping online, customers are usually given the option to either pay using cash when the product is delivered to them, called cash-on-delivery, or to pay using electronic cash services. “Ang ina-advise ko sa mga kaibigan ko, mag cash-on-delivery ka para makita mo. Malalaman mo kung fake ba iyong [product] o hindi,” he said in an interview with Radyo 630. (The advice I give to my friends is to opt for cash-on-delivery, so you can see it for yourself. You’ll find out whether the [product] is fake or not.) Further, the co-lead convenor urged online shoppers to purchase products only through legitimate online selling websites, as scams tend to occur in transactions between private individuals. Samaniego Jr. also said victims should file complaints against scammers online. “Kailangan magreklamo tayo kapag naii-scam tayo sa mga online shopping sites na ito,” he said. (We need to complain when we get scammed on these online shopping sites.) Samaniego mentioned Filipinos tend to refrain from complaining when scammed due to embarrassment over being deceived. He also said they hold a belief that filing a complaint will not yield any result. “Kapag hindi tayo nagreklamo, mas maraming magiging biktima ang mga kriminal na ito. Kaya dapat magreklamo tayo,” he explained. (If we don’t complain, more people will become victims of these criminals, so we should file a complaint.) Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center previously told online shoppers to be “extra careful” when buying products on the internet during the Christmas season. The reminder comes, after a report revealed Philippines tops 11 countries with the highest shopping scam rate in Asia.