12 safety tips when buying online

MANILA - Do you often purchase from online shops? Here are some tips to make sure you are buying from legitimate businesses.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reminded consumers to be wary of bogus sellers and to be careful when making online transactions.

"Once again, the department reminds consumers to be extra careful in getting into online purchases than be sorry after and realize that they were deceived or short-changed," DTI-Consumer Protection Group (CPG) Undersecretary Atty. Victorio Mario A. Dimagiba said.

Nielsen Global Survey of E-Commerce stated in its recent release that the number of Filipinos purchasing online are increasing. Filipinos who are showing interest to online purchases are at the same number as Singaporeans and Vietnamese.

However, there is also an increase in the number of complaints. The DTI said that it has received a total of 612 complaints from consumers since January 2013. The DTI has already resolved 378 or 62%, while 174 or 28% were dismissed.

On the other hand, he department also reminds online merchants to register business names with DTI or SEC, and to properly operate as an enterprise.

Dimagba reminded online merchants that they are considered the same as other businesses not on a similar platform.

"It just so happens that online merchants are doing business through the internet, which is another platform in conducting business today," he said.

12 tips

To make sure online purchases are being done properly, DTI listed the following tips for consumers:

1. Use your own computer/laptop to do your shopping to ensure that nobody else has access to your personal data and accounts.

2. Install and update your computer's anti-virus/anti-malware program for optimum protection against internet security threats and hackers.

3. Use a password that cannot be easily guessed. Mix alphanumeric and special characters in creating your password.

4. Check for the contact information of the website and validate them to know that they exist and if they can address your queries and/or complaints.

5. In searching for bargains in online classified websites, make sure that you transact with legitimate and trusted sellers. Read customer feedbacks and testimonials.

6. In making online payments, transact with a website that uses an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption. If a website has SSL installed, the URL starts with "https" instead of just "http".

7. Read the privacy policy statement. Learn how online shops handle and secure the information that you will be providing them.

8. Do not give too much information. Provide only what is required and leave the rest blank.

9. Do not be deceived by huge discounts. Contact the website or the merchant to validate the offer. If the deal seems unrealistic, it is more likely a scam.

10. Look for the DTI Sales Promo Permit Number especially in online shopping websites that offer promos like that of group buying sites.

11. Read and understand the terms and conditions and payment methods.

12. Log-out your account after every transaction.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Ams see Napoles surrender a step in right direction

LOS ANGELES - Hours after President Aquino placed a P10 million bounty on alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Napoles, Malacanang announced the wealthy business woman turned herself in on Wednesday evening.

Two weeks ago, a warrant was issued for her and her brother, Reynald Lim, for the illegal detention of their cousin Benhur Luy.

Luy is believed to have blown the whistle on Napoles' alleged scam which involved taking pork barrel funds from lawmakers and putting them into bogus organizations.

The scam prompted Filipinos from all over the world to launch protests earlier this week and has made the Philippine government consider procedures regarding public funds.

The same Filipino activists that rallied at a Napoles property over the weekend were at a human rights protest on Wednesday morning as they welcomed the development.

"Napoles turning herself in is really one step in us recognizing how large the system of corruption is," said Theresa Jaranilla, regional coordinator of Bayan-USA.

"It's a positive step that Napoles has surrendered but I think people still need to be vigilant and remember we're calling for an abolishing the entire pork barrel system especially the president's," added Eric Tandoc, secretary general of Anakbayan.

Filipinos believe this is a step in the right direction and are hoping Napoles will eventually spill the beans on which politicians may have been involved.

They believe despite Aquino's bounty, the president must still abolish the pork barrel system including his own.

"Her turning herself into Aquino you can see Aquino might use it to make people think he's on the side of the people. But we need to remember he has the biggest pork barrel that needs to be abolished," said Tandoc.

The arrest warrant is only for the illegal detention charges. No charges have been filed in the pork barrel scheme as probes continue.

Malacanang offered no word on the progress with Napoles' brother.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

3 Pinoys fall in $10-million scam in Thailand

MANILA, Philippines - Three Filipinos were among 15 foreigners arrested by Thai authorities for allegedly running a call center scam that duped people into wiring more than Bt320 million (more than US$10 million or more than P400 million) into their bank accounts.

A report Saturday in the Thai English language newspaper The Nation did not identify the suspects but said six are British, two American, two Romanian, three Filipinos, a German and a South African.

The report said the suspects were arrested at an apartment in Sukhumvit Soi 13 from where they operated the scam, which was based on bogus stock market trading.

The Nation quoted Thai police as saying the suspects, posing as independent brokers, would tell their victims, mostly Westerners, that they could make a 95-percent profit on their investments in return for a 25-percent cut of the profits.

The ring allegedly had a Swiss bank account from which they would transfer money to Malaysia and then to Thailand.

source: interaksyon.com