Are You Buying Goods By Seeing Ads On TikTok And Instagram And Facebook Nowadays we spend our time online, where we see advertisements for various items and products. Seeing these ads may make us want to buy content.
For example, when you watch Reels and TikTok on Facebook or Instagram, you start seeing ads for different types of content. In such advertisements, everything from the home kitchen to clothes and other items is shown. Not only advertising but social media accounts are also opened to sell goods directly.
With the increase in access to the Internet, it has become easier for small and medium entrepreneurs to reach potential customers, but some people have taken advantage of this and run a fraudulent business. People are getting scammed, especially in the name of online shopping. Fraudsters are using social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as weapons.
How is online fraud?
This can be understood from an example. Let’s say you saw an ad for a saree on Facebook and decided to buy it. Then, you contact the account, ask for the price, and send the money. However, after sending the money, the goods are not delivered; rather, the contact number is blocked.
This is a kind of fraud. Similarly, there are various methods of fraud, such as providing low-quality materials in the name of quality goods and sending other goods instead of one.
How to avoid fraud?
There is no formula to accurately identify a fraudulent account, but you can make a guess in the following ways:
1. Check the website: E-commerce companies run their own website to promote business on social media. Before purchasing any product, check the website’s availability.
2. Check the date the page was opened: You can see when the page was opened on Facebook. Be careful if you have just opened a page.
3. Check the regularity of the posts: Real shops keep updating the page regularly. Be wary of pages with fewer posts.
4. Check the office or physical store: Real stores also encourage customers to visit their office or physical store.
5. Look at reviews or followers: Pay attention to the responses of previous customers. Be wary of pages with negative feedback or low followers.
6. Check face-to-face or non-face-to-face: Real stores can have video presenters to introduce products. If you don’t see people in any of the posts, be alert.
7. Be careful about insisting on payment: E-commerce sites offer the option to pay only after receiving the goods. Be wary of accounts that only insist on regular payments.
What to do in case of fraud?
In case of fraud, contact the duty officer of the nearest police office or cyber bureau on 9851286770 or 9851286771. Similarly, write and mail the problem to the Cyber Bureau’s official email address, cyberbureau@nepalpolice.gov.np.
