Blackpink promo has 148 complaints

MANILA, Philippines — Almost 150 fans have now filed consumer complaints against the online shopping site Shopee over its recent meet-and-greet promo that dangled passes to the show of the K-pop group Blackpink for winners.

As of Friday, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it had received a total of 148 consumer complaints on what many on social media call the #Shopeescam, a spike from just 10 complaints filed last week.

The DTI’s Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (DTI-FTEB) also filed this week a formal complaint against the e-commerce firm for changing its promo mechanics without government approval.

DTI-FTEB Director Ronnel Abrenica said the bureau filed the formal complaint in DTI’s adjudication office, which could fine Shopee a maximum of P300,000 if it ruled in favor of the complainant.

It was not clear as of press time how the consumer complaints ballooned to 148 when, according to Abrenica, Shopee said that only 116 fans had received the wrong notice.

He said DTI was now in the process of crosschecking the complaints it received against those  received by Shopee to cross out those who had already settled with the e-commerce firm.

The promo said top spenders within a certain timeframe would get free passes to the show.

Abrenica, who had met with Shopee representatives last week, said 568 fans eventually made it to the winning list, although 116 also received notices about getting a pass, only to be told at the gate that the message was wrongly sent.