Beware of fake online sellers

The country’s biggest lender, BDO Unibank, has warned consumers against scammers lurking in social media sites and posing as online vendors.

Some of these scammers —often pretending to be page administrators of online shops —bait victims with attractive deals, BDO said on Monday.

These fake sellers lure interested buyers in social media as well as messaging app communities and urge them into making a deposit immediately to seal the deal. They disappear into thin air after getting the payment.

Other fake social media sellers post “PM is key,” which means buyers should send them a private message to know the product’s price and other details. This tactic is a red flag and against the law, BDO said.

Republic Act No. 7394 or the Consumer Act as well as RA 7581 require all sellers to display product prices explicitly. Noncompliance, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), could trigger a fine ranging from P5,000 to P2 million while culprits face imprisonment of 15 years.

Consumers are urged to report vendors, online or otherwise, who violate this law to the DTI.

With the current quarantine protocols driving more people to shop online, BDO reminded clients to be wary of vendors they negotiate with on social media. While not all online vendors are scammers, some are—“so it’s urgently crucial to stay vigilant and get to know them well before sending them money,” the bank said. INQ