The Administration for Digital Industries yesterday cautioned the public to verify online advertisements with commercial brands’ official Web site to avoid fraudulent mooncake sales ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Some people made online purchases based on a seasonal gift box ad on social media, it said. The ad claimed it was a limited-edition gift box that contained artisanal holiday treats, with refrigerated home delivery and an early-bird discount offered to attract consumers, it said.
The Web site showed product photos, gift box contents, prices, delivery options and an order form after clicking the purchase link to enter its Web site, which looked similar to that of legitimate vendors, it said.
Photo: Taipei Times
People who placed an order did not verify the offer with the brand’s official Web site or social media accounts, nor did they make sure the purchase link and the seller’s information was legitimate while entering their information and paying, it said.
They did not receive any shipment notification, and several days later, the ad Web site stopped working, it said.
No customer service or store information was ever found, the administration said, adding the complainants finally checked the brand’s official Web site and realized there was no promotion.
The ad was set up by scammers mimicking the legitimate brand, it said.
The administration reminded people to remember four anti-fraud tips while shopping online.
First, do not assume it is an official campaign just because an attractive online ad uses fine product photos or well-known brand names, it said.
Consumers should first check a brand’s official Web site or social media accounts and enter its shopping Web site via officially approved sales channels, the administration said, cautioning against clicking on links for unknown sources.
Second, people entering a shopping Web site should verify the link with the brand’s official Web site and make sure it provides comprehensive information on company name, contact information, address, returns and exchanges, and after-sales services, it said.
Third, do not trust products that come with unusually low prices or discounts before checking with the official Website, it said.
Fourth, do not follow instructions on unknown Web sites to transfer money, enter credit card numbers, or share any personal information, it said.
That can prevent data breaches, unauthorized credit card charges or getting scammed, the administration said.
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