Many buyers have fallen for offers that were ‘too good to be true’

PETALING JAYA: The Internet has made it easier for people to purchase products with a click of a button, but it has also put them at a greater risk of falling prey to offers too good to be true.

There have been numerous reports of buyers being duped and last year alone, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry recorded a 112.5% increase in complaints about online transactions.

One case involved Samantha who nearly lost RM900 to an elaborate online shopping scam that had targeted victims from various countries.

“I was scrolling through my Facebook in February when I saw some good offers for makeup products, because apparently they were trying to sell them off due to the movement control order.

“It looked very official, but it turned out that the scammers were using the name of a reputable brand, ” she said.

She said she was directed to a link with good reviews and where she had to fill in a questionnaire.

“The ‘merchant’ said they were charging a one-off RM20 delivery fee. I agreed and I put in my credit card details in. A few minutes later, I got a call from my credit card company which flagged the transaction.

“I asked my credit card company how much the transaction was and I found out that it was about RM900.

“They stopped the transaction, ” she said, adding that she contacted the “merchant” to stop the transaction as well.

Despite her instruction, Samantha received a message a few days later that the products will be delivered.

She immediately submitted a complaint to the credit card company to cancel her card and lodge a police report.

“I went on to the official website of the brand, and I saw that they issued a notice that their brand name was being used in a scam. There were complaints on social media all over the world about this.

“I’ve not been charged for the transaction and the investigation will take three months, ” she said.

Another woman, who wished to be known only as Wong, said she ordered a skincare product from a home seller that did not meet her expectation.

She forked out over RM100 for a bottle of the product, but when it finally arrived, it turned out to be a tiny bottle that was no bigger than her little finger.