IN THE era of modern technology, people can obtain almost anything that they want with just a simple click on a button or a light touch on the screen.
Technology has given the people the ability to transact and establish businesses without having to construct a store or a building. Creating a Facebook Page or an Instagram account then poof, you have your own online business.
But as much as the new technology has given the people the convenience they wanted, it can also bring danger if not used responsibly and carefully.
Consumers can still be victims of scams and frauds, and this time, these kind of businesses is more dangerous and hard to identify in the midst of thousands of online businesses in the internet.
To avoid being a possible victim of online scams and frauds, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has advised online users, particularly the e-consumers, to "think before you click."
The following are some tips before shopping online and completing your transaction:
1. Always look for the Security Socket Layer (SSL) Certificate in online shopping sites that you visit. This will help protect the important information such as credit card numbers, home address, and passwords you put in the website.
2. See to it that there's a lock icon in the address bar to make sure that the website you visit is safe.
3. In giving your personal information such as address or card number, make sure that the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) starts with "https://.”
4. To make sure whether the online business is legit, look for its DTI/SEC registration, BIR Registration (2303), business permit, sales invoice or official receipt, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) license.
5. Read reviews from the customers of the online shopping website you visit.
The Department of Trade and Industry is celebrating the month of October as Consumer Welfare Month with this year's celebration theme: "Making Digital Market Places Fairer." It focuses on the impacts of digital technology and how it helps in the attainment of product quality and safety conscious society.
As technology strives, more and more consumers are choosing the convenient way of shopping online.
For safety, DTI urged the consumers, especially the e-consumers, to be vigilant and wiser in order not to be taken advantage of by illegal and dangerous online sellers.