Black Friday Sales: Watch out for fake online stores
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has warned Nigerians to look out for fake online stores ahead of the customary seasonal sales, known as Black Friday.
Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC disclosed this in an advisory statement.
According to Irukera, the Commission foresees a 135 per cent rise in fake online stores.
The Commission said Nigerians should be vigilant and only patronize trusted and credible platforms to satisfy their needs.
“The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has received credible intelligence that the customary seasonal sales at deep discounts on a specific Friday, otherwise known as ‘Black Friday’, may witness an increase of fake online stores by 135%, including scams, misrepresentation and other exploitative conduct. This information is corroborated by publicly available reports such as Netcraft.
“The Commission advises consumers to be vigilant and discerning in this period and to demand and insist on their rights, particularly concerning full and transparent disclosures,” he said.
Netcraft, a research group, had earlier raised the alarm on the rise of fake online stores ahead of Black Friday sales, which officially kick-started on 24th-27th November after the United Thanksgiving Day celebration.
According to Netcraft, fraudulent online stores use different techniques, including offering bogus discounts and impersonating luxurious, fake websites to deceive their victims.
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