Online business has become a lucrative source of income
for some middle-income earners. In fact, online business also has widened the opportunities
for the university students to earn extra income to finance their studies.
Furthermore, shopping has become easier with online business. Click on the
items to be purchased and soon it will arrive at your destination. Everything
is just at the fingertips. Purchasing items through social sites like Facebook
and Instagram seem simple and easier to certain people who have a tight
schedule everyday.
However,
online business is very risky to online fraud. Online business has become a
site for some unscrupulous people to commit various tactics of fraud. Previously,
most of the cases reported were only involved the buyers been deceived by the
online sellers. The most common scams are the confusing advertisement, offer
the lowest price to the customers and the item received is different from what
have been ordered. But now, the situation is slightly different where the
sellers also could be the victim of the online fraud. There are few cases
reported regarding online sellers deceived by the irresponsible buyers.
Normally fraudsters will trick the online sellers during the money transaction
using automated teller machine (ATM). The fraudsters will snap the picture of
the fake transaction receipt.
Most
of the fraudsters are sweet talkers and would always give numerous excuses and
promises. Apart from that, they also would always make up sad stories to get
sympathy from the victims. Sometimes, they will act as a serious buyer/seller;
they willingly give out details about themselves but unfortunately the
information given is false. Dealing through online is trickier than dealing
directly since it will give some time to the fraudsters to come out with
another trick such as making another sad story or maybe they will blame the
postage service.
In fact, it will be difficult to trace them as they could hide
their true identity by giving the false information and fake profile picture. Most
of the victims of online fraud will only realize once the money has been
transferred to the scammers or after they received the goods. Then most of the
fraudsters will block the victims on social media and mobile applications such
as Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger and Wechat. Thus, making it more difficult for
the victims to trace them and collect evidence for police report.
Therefore,
in order to control the online fraud, the government in collaboration with the
Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), has required all dealers who do
business on Facebook, Mudah.my, website, blogspot, Instagram and mobile
applications to register their businesses with SSM. Failure to register can be prosecuted
and fined. Online sellers must also register with the Malaysian Communications and
Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to prove that the dealer is honest in his business
as well as to give confidence their clients. If the seller commits online
fraud, the buyer should lodge a complaint at Tribunal for Consumer Claims
Malaysia. Meanwhile for sellers, they could submit their complaints to the
authorities.
These
online fraudsters will always adapt their way of scamming and they will never
reveal their true identity to the public. Therefore, the dealers and buyers should
always bear in mind to be more careful when doing online business. It is recommended for the authorities to monitor the fraudsters
regularly. In conclusion, the user should be a smart user when shopping.
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