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[av_heading heading=’Beware of online, text fraud – DTI’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RESEL JOY TIANERO
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Sunday, March 19, 2017
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ILOILO City – Fraudulent advisories online and sent via text message are rampant. Consumers must beware of them.
Online, text and promo scams are among major consumer complaints, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
Commenting specifically on promo scams, Regional Director Rebecca Rascon advised the public to be wary of promos they allegedly won even without joining.
“You allegedly won something when you have not participated in any raffle or dropped any coupon,” she said. “So why did you win? What is the source of this?”
The public should be more aware of this now, especially that summer is near. Fake travel promos might proliferate online, Rascon said.
Some clients already booked their travel and paid their tickets only to find out an unlicensed agency is handling their trip, she said.
“Better to check the cited establishments and ask if they are really partners with the travel agency indicated,” Rascon said.
The DTI Region 6 held a Regional Consumer Organization Forum on March 15 at Days Hotel in observance of the World Consumer Rights Day.
Consumer organizations, including school-based consumer groups, mall operators, and senior citizens from all over Western Visayas and Bacolod City attended.
The forum aimed to increase consumer awareness and vigilance on advertisements or information through the digital technology.
“We would like our consumers to keep away from being fooled [by] these frauds,” Rascon said. “Before, we [get] information only from the TV, radio or newspapers. Now we are linked globally through the web. We could not identify the sources of these fraudulent information.” (With DTI Region 6/PN)
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