Virtual storefronts are proliferating on e-commerce platforms.

Taking advantage of the policy that prohibits customers from inspecting goods upon delivery online, many virtual stores have recently been flourishing, attracting buyers on e-commerce platforms.

The wooden planks were actually mobile phones that the perpetrators packaged and shipped. Photo: Phu Tho Provincial Police.

Be cautious with virtual storefronts.

Speaking to a reporter from Lao Dong newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi ) said that last month she ordered several types of products. cosmetics It's from a well-known brand on an e-commerce platform. She happened to see a store offering a 50% discount voucher, so she placed an order right away.

“Just when I needed to buy cosmetics, I saw this store on the e-commerce platform had tens of thousands of sales, posting products at prices lower than the listed price, advertising shocking discounts and clearance sales. Seeing the products in the pictures and with the packaging looking reputable, I placed an order worth over 1 million VND. However, upon receiving the order, I discovered it was just a bottle of hair growth stimulating shampoo and I couldn't contact the store again,” said Ms. Tuyet.

Previously, the Phu Tho Provincial Police arrested a gang specializing in defrauding and stealing promotional funds on e-commerce platforms. The suspects confessed that they and their accomplices created virtual stores on online shopping applications to steal money from e-commerce platforms through discount codes and promotions.

The police determined that these individuals orchestrated a fraudulent scheme through multiple stages, including creating fake online stores, recruiting people to process fake orders, searching for and applying discount codes, requesting e-commerce platforms to place fake orders, packaging goods incorrectly, and colluding to carry out fake deliveries to create fraudulent documents to trick e-commerce platforms into transferring promotional funds to buyers' accounts.

It's difficult to distinguish between real and fake stores on e-commerce platforms. Photo: Thu Giang

Strengthen the screening and control of virtual stores.

According to the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy ( Ministry of Industry and Trade ), nearly 75% of internet users nationwide participate in online shopping for items such as clothing, shoes, cosmetics, household appliances, technology and electronics, books, flowers, gifts, and food.

These are the types of goods and services that are consumers Online shopping is the most popular choice. Mobile phones continue to be the primary means consumers use to place online orders (accounting for 91%).

According to the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy (Ministry of Industry and Trade), in 2024, the largest e-commerce platforms in Vietnam are expected to achieve revenue and sales exceeding US$12.5 billion, marking a 35% increase compared to 2023. This strong growth further exacerbates the sophisticated methods and tactics used by violators and the increasing prevalence of e-commerce fraud.

Regarding this matter, Ms. Vu Thanh Quynh - Director of Communications at Shopee Vietnam - stated that Shopee has also collaborated with the Vietnam E-commerce Association (Vecom) to implement a safe shopping initiative, helping consumers overcome anxieties and obstacles when shopping online. Furthermore, Shopee has also implemented a co-inspection online shopping program, allowing consumers to verify the goods they purchase, thus giving them greater peace of mind.

According to Ms. Vu Thanh Quynh, upon discovering fraudulent activity, people should immediately contact the consumer support hotlines of e-commerce websites or file a complaint with the Competition and Consumer Protection Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade).

Source