HK consumer watchdog offers tips amid surge in online shopping scams

Hong Kong's consumer watchdog has provided several tips for citizens on avoiding online shopping scams as the number of online shopping scams surged along with the rising trend of HongKongers turning to online stores or second-hand goods trading platforms.

According to figures cited by Consumer Council, the number of online shopping scams has increased sharply from 2,187 in 2018 to 8,135 in 2022. In response to the rising trend of online shopping scams, the Consumer Council has provided some tips in its latest issue of CHOICE Magazine, ensuring that citizens can avoid falling victim to scams. 

Firstly, the watchdog suggested consumers to conduct a background check on the stores they are buying from, including when the online stores first join the social media platforms and whether they keep changing names on those platforms. “Consumer should pay extra attention if some stores claim that they are a local shop while their administrators located overseas," the statement read.

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Furthermore, Consumer Council said that consumers should be extra aware of stores that are receiving all positive reviews and replies in foreign languages. Consumers are also reminded that using the real-name registration programme of FPS system for payment doesn’t guarantee security, as other overseas identity documents apart from Hong Kong Identity Card are also accepted when registering the system.

Consumer Council has also encouraged consumers to enter details such as the shop’s name, phone numbers and bank account, into police’s Scameter on CyberDefender.hk (防騙視伏器) before finalising payment to assess the risks. Meanwhile, sellers should always check their available balance in their bank account to ensure they have been paid before shipping the products to buyers and prevent sellers from being faked by buyers using a blank cheque or a fake check and deposit slip.

Credit: Consumer Council

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