How not to be fooled when purchasing goods and services online

There is a clear tendency to increase the number of users of the e-commerce system. The infrastructure that provides communication and functional communication between buyers and sellers is growing and actively developing, including new post offices appear, including private ones, the banking system adapts to modern forms of payment.

In recent years, the number of payment terminals has grown, which is one of the conditions for the development of e-commerce, although the structure of payments for received goods and services still continues to dominate cash payment and use of card accounts of individuals. Currently, Internet trade ranks second in the structure of retail trade in Ukraine. E-commerce should be positioned as a real opportunity to develop trade relations in all economic spheres in Ukraine. We observe special dynamics in e-commerce in small and medium business.

After analyzing the issues and information messages of consumers who have had a negative experience of purchasing goods and services, it is necessary to state the following fact: together with e-commerce, Internet fraud is developing dynamically.

There is a clear tendency to increase the number of users of e-commerce system. The infrastructure that provides communication and functional communication between buyers and sellers is growing and actively developing, including new post offices appear, including private ones, the banking system adapts to modern forms of payment.

It is possible to distinguish the following typical forms of Internet fraud:

Failure to receive ordered and / or paid services.

Fishing (theft of personal data and banking information).

Sale of counterfeit goods under the guise of original (counterfeit low quality goods).

Fraud in the form of theft of funds in the absence of supply of goods or provision of services (imitation of trade or services).

Violation of consumer rights of all kinds, including in the form of non-compliance with warranty obligations and inability to return defective goods.

In the “confrontation” of dishonest e-commerce entities and consumers, consumers lose 99.9%.

If we briefly analyze the situation, the main reason for consumers to get into “unpleasant situations” are only a few factors:

Search the web for the lowest price for goods and services.
Consciously ignoring danger, even if you understand such danger.
Banal inattention, or unwillingness to analyze the basic security criteria in e-commerce.

Thus, consumers themselves create the basis for the dynamic development of a dishonest e-commerce market, quick and, as a result, easy profit of dishonest entities.

The current regulatory field, to a certain extent, guarantees the rights of consumers guaranteed by the state. However, the key problem of impossibility of implementing protection mechanisms is the inability to identify persons who commit illegal acts, criminal acts, violations of consumer rights guaranteed by law.

Lack of identification of e-commerce entities, use of unauthorized forms of payment, confidentiality of personal data of persons who create web resources for e-commerce, lack of adequate liability for violations of consumer rights and e-commerce principles, does not contribute to consumer protection and preservation their financial assets.

Is there a way out of this situation?

Is it possible to protect the consumer and his rights in such a difficult environment?

The answer is simple – YES! If we do not delve into the issue of streamlining legislation and bringing it into international practice of regulating e-commerce and consumer protection (more developed countries went this way a decade ago), the answer is still:

Consumer protection is the work of the consumer!

Such a “simple” solution to the issue of consumer protection, we consider it necessary to provide basic advice to consumers themselves how not to fall into the scam and ensure their rights, namely.

Independent critical analysis of information and application of criteria of acceptable reasonableness in the selection of goods, services and their suppliers.

A product or service cannot be 30-70% cheaper than the average market price, no matter how much you want it.
If you are offered to win a SUPER-DISCOUNT promotion of a trade network or brand, you need to find the contacts of such a network (not on the web resource where you won) and consult about the availability of the promotion and the safety of participation in it.
Careful analysis of contacts on the web resource. Lack of identification of the e-commerce entity with all the necessary details. The absence of the actual address of activity, the presence of a form of one-way communication, the indication in the contacts only of e-mail or mobile phone should lead to reasonable doubts about further cooperation.
The similarity or complete identity of the domain name of a found web resource with an interesting offer does not ensure that such a provider belongs to a legal business.
Objective analysis of reviews about the subject of e-commerce both on the web resource and on the Internet. Reviews on the web resource itself can be modeled by a moderator, and on the Internet you can find real reviews that reflect the real status of the subject.

Observance of the established rules of calculations and conditions of delivery, maintenance of proper documentary support of the agreement in Internet trade.

The consumer must not pay for the ordered goods or services by replenishing the card accounts of third parties. This form of “payment” is risky by all criteria.
The received goods must be carefully inspected and checked upon receipt, and only after that the calculation must be made.
Receipt of goods or services must be accompanied by appropriate documents that are properly completed, have all the necessary details of the document: fiscal check, consignment note, completed warranty card, the presence of signatures and seals of the business entity.

Observance of preventive safety measures when agreeing on the terms of delivery of goods or provision of services.

The consumer should not be afraid to ask many questions: about the originality of the product, about the observance of consumer rights, about the presence of an office and authorized persons, about the availability of documentation in an accessible language, about belonging to the official representation of the brand, etc. For inquisitive consumers, unscrupulous suppliers avoid and enter into agreements.
When receiving goods by courier delivery or the actual provision of services at the consumer’s facility, it is necessary to request identity cards (even take photos), write down the numbers of vehicles, carefully monitor the movement of the object. Carefully and critically treat documents that are issued in the context of delivery or service, warranty documents, etc.

The higher the cost of delivery of goods or services, the higher becomes the risk of losing money, receiving poor quality services, with the subsequent inability to protect consumer rights.

Preventive analysis of the supplier of goods or services, verification of the information declared by the supplier, proper identification of the seller or supplier is the key to successful implementation of the agreement and further protection of consumer rights, in case of objective grounds for claims.

Modern realities

It takes several hours to open an Internet resource with an offer to supply goods and services.

Close (liquidate) the Internet resource after misappropriation of funds or problems with the consumer – a few seconds.

E-commerce without supplier identification is a cancerous tumor on the body of e-commerce, which harms the development of the economy, carries reputational risks and makes it impossible to ensure consumer rights or bring to administrative (criminal) responsibility.

The consumer must remember that a web resource or online store is not a subject of economic activity, but only a means of its implementation, so no complaint about the “online store” by the authorities is likely to be considered on formal grounds.

Remember the basic rule:

CONSUMER RIGHTS PROTECTION = CONSUMER AWARENESS AND REASONABILITY.

LOW PRICE OF GOODS OR SERVICES should not be the main criterion when choosing a consumer.