“Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.” This popular saying on social media is often paired with stories or videos of individuals facing the unfortunate consequences of their own foolish actions. Interestingly, this adage can also be applied to those who, due to their carelessness, greed, or a combination of both, fall victim to online fraud and then seek help from authorities. However, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently announced that online selling platforms like Lazada and Shopee, which serve as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, would also be held responsible if the vendors they host engage in selling “deceptive and defective” products. Deceptive products have become the number one consumer complaint, with customers ordering mobile phones but receiving items such as wet wipes, toilet paper, or rocks instead. To address this issue, the DTI warned that both the online platforms and vendors could face fines of up to P300,000. This may seem harsh, but it raises an important question: Shouldn’t we learn a valuable lesson from the current state of e-commerce, where scams are rampant? By learning this lesson, we can not only reduce instances of fraud in the online marketplace but also become less susceptible to scams in other areas of national importance. Undoubtedly, online platforms that sell goods, services, or financial products need to do a better job of ensuring the authenticity and legality of what is being offered. However, this task becomes incredibly challenging in a digital marketplace that processes millions of transactions every day, connecting buyers from various locations. Policing online transactions is much more difficult than monitoring face-to-face exchanges in physical marketplaces. But perhaps there is a more effective solution. Rather than constantly trying to stop fraud or shifting the blame onto middlemen, it would be more efficient to prevent the problem from occurring in the first place. Just like the Dutch boy who tried to plug all the holes in a leaky dike, it would be wiser to build a better dike, raise the land’s elevation, or build a floodway to redirect the water’s flow. In the context of e-commerce, the key lies in educating consumers. Platforms like Lazada and Shopee have designated sections (“Lazmall” and “Shopee Mall”) where products are guaranteed to be authentic. Admittedly, these products may come with a slightly higher price tag because the validation process requires extra effort from both the vendor and the platform. Additionally, there are other indicators such as reviews and ratings from previous buyers, as well as indications of “preferred” vendors provided by the platforms. If, despite all these signs, a buyer still insists on purchasing a brand-new “iPhone” from an unknown vendor at a ridiculously low price like P5,000 compared to the market price of close to P100,000, then that buyer must accept the consequences of being scammed. Unfortunately, there has been a troubling trend in Philippine society where people tend to believe everything they see online, whether it’s misleading statements from politicians, schemes from shady companies, or incredibly cheap offers from sellers. The sarcastic proverb “If it’s on the internet, it must be true” has sadly become a reality for many Filipinos. Ultimately, no amount of regulation can fully protect people who choose to remain uninformed. While online platforms should do more to combat fraud, it is equally important for citizens to educate themselves and become less gullible. This applies not only to scams facilitated through SMS or online selling platforms but also to the promises made by politicians every election cycle. Imagine a society where individuals develop a mindset that alerts them when an offer seems too good to be true: “Caveat emptor!” Let the buyer beware! This would be the ultimate protection against scams.
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