This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
Online shopping has become increasingly popular, but it also comes with its own set of risks. One of the biggest concerns for online shoppers is falling victim to scams. In a recent conversation with Jiji, a leading online classifieds platform, we learned about five common schemes used by scammers to deceive buyers.
Scammers' Tricks ¶
Scammers use various tactics to deceive buyers, including fake delivery notes, faulty goods, and pricing mistakes. One of the most common schemes is the 'Cash Before Delivery' scam, where buyers are asked to pay upfront for goods that may never arrive.
Another scheme is the 'Parcel with Goods Imitation' scam, where buyers receive a package, but it contains something useless instead of the paid goods. This can be a brick, a piece of wood, or even rundown clothes.
Buyers may also receive faulty goods, which may look perfect at first but develop defects over time. Scammers use this tactic to deceive buyers into thinking they have received the correct goods.
Scammers may also use pricing mistakes to their advantage. By reducing the cost of goods as much as possible, scammers can lure buyers into making a purchase. However, when the buyer receives the goods, they may find that the price has increased, and they are forced to pay more.
Finally, scammers may add fake characteristics to product descriptions to make the goods appear more expensive and of higher quality. This can lead to buyers paying more for goods that are not worth the price.
At Jiji, we take security seriously. Our platform has an advanced security system in place to protect buyers from scams. If you encounter any problems with a seller, you can report us, and our team will investigate the matter.
