Through the use of mobile wallets such as Coins.ph, sending money is now as fast and easy as sending an email or text message. When buying items online, make sure that you’re purchasing from a legitimate seller before placing an order and sending your payment.
Before making any purchase, make sure that you do the proper checks on the seller:
1. Ask for actual photos of the items
When in doubt, ask for more details regarding the product. If the image is blurred or looks like it was just downloaded from the internet, ask for images of other angles of the product to verify that it is on-hand. Be suspicious if the seller refuses to send you pictures and give you additional details.
Remember: Scammers look for people who are easy to convince and may be impatient and short-tempered if there are additional questions.
2. The price is too good to be true
If the price is too cheap or way below the original or suggested retail price (SRP), this could be a fake product or a scam. Make sure to check the SRP and compare the price with other online sellers before making a purchase decision.
3. Buy from verified or legitimate online stores
Exercise caution and go to legitimate platforms where sellers go through a verification procedure, such as Lazada or Shopee.
Reminder: Avoid making transactions through chat or through SMS with people you do not know. To be sure that the seller can be trusted, purchase from established and well-known online shops. If you’re shopping on apps like Lazada or Shopee, choose sellers that are on LazMall or Shopee Mall as they are guaranteed to be authentic and trusted.
4. Check buyer ratings and reviews
If the buyer ratings for the seller or the product are too low or negative, it might be best to find another source for the product or service.
Checking the reviews would also help you determine if the product or service is legitimate and proof of delivery.
Reminder: You can also double-check the customers that left reviews to see if they are legitimate buyers.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SEE A FAKE ONLINE SELLER?
If you encounter a fake online seller, report this immediately to the PNP Anti-Cybercrime group at acg@pnp.gov.ph to prevent them from scamming others.
If you see a fake online seller that uses Coins.ph as a payment option, report this to us immediately. You may contact us through the Coins app or Coins Support Form.