Uganda is currently dealing with a flood of internet shopping con artists who are stealing people’s hard-earned money. These con artists are frequently seen on social media, particularly Facebook, where they frequently advertise their stylish, appealing clothing, particularly women’s attire.
They create fictitious Facebook sites and profiles while posing as shop owners hunting for online customers. They share beautiful images of the merchandise they sell, and occasionally they even use fictitious shop images to prove their location or legitimacy.
In order to lure customers, scammers on these sites post pricey goods at absurdly low costs with further incentives like “Free Delivery” around Kampala. They continue to advertise and post their outfits and items on a large number of Facebook groups in an effort to draw potential customers who ultimately fall victim to fraud.
After deciding they like the items online, the potential victim then inboxes the vendor, who then asks them to give a screenshot of the item they’re interested in. On confirming the order, the victim is asked to make a payment first through a mobile money number after agreeing on a price. The scammer always persists that it’s a company policy for a payment receipt to be generated immediately and sent together with the things to be delivered.
After receiving the mobile money payment, the scammer informs the buyer that the receipt and things to be delivered have been dispatched and are on their way. When time passes by and the victim calls to ask how far with the delivery, the scammer always fabricates explanations for the delayed delivery, and when the customer persists, the scammer turns off his phone and blocks the buyer on social media. The victim is then left with no promised items and his money has been stolen.
How to Avoid Online Clothes Shopping Scams in Uganda
To prevent being a victim of online shopping scams in Uganda, it’s critical to be cautious and conduct thorough research before making any online transactions. Be wary of deals that appear to be too good to be true, and avoid online merchants that do not have a reputable reputation or track record.
It is generally recommended that when purchasing online, one should always shop from respected online businesses such as Jumia, eBay, Amazon, and others that are company-to-customer oriented rather than individual-to-customer oriented.
Always double-check an online retailer’s validity by running a quick background check on their claimed physical address/location and phone number, as well as checking customer reviews and complaints on their marketing posts.
Always verify the authenticity of an online retailer by doing a small background check on their alleged physical address, and contact number plus always check customer reviews and complaints on their marketing posts.
Only utilize reputable, well-known payment methods, such as credit cards or online payment systems, with reputable retailers. If you are purchasing from a new or unfamiliar retailer, only the “Cash on Delivery” option should be used. If the vendor refuses to accept this option, always cancel the order because that individual may be a scammer.
It’s also a good idea to maintain track of your transactions and print or save copies of your orders and invoices in case you encounter any issues with online retail shops.
