Convenience for everyone

The internet has provided countless conveniences to millions of people. One can get the latest news, traffic conditions, perform bank transactions, get information on almost anything and of course, shop. With traffic in Metro Manila being unbearable in the past months, many are now turning to online shopping. One can purchase almost anything online nowadays, with payment options also done online. No need to go out and bear the horrible traffic, only to reach your destination and find out you can't park anywhere. With the internet, everything is just a click away. Unfortunately, this same convenience is now being exploited by scammers and criminals. It did not take long for criminal minds to take advantage of this very convenience.

An online seller saw the attraction of selling high-end designer name bags. Bags that the mere mortal would never be able to afford, nor justify buying. With prices in the hundreds of thousands of pesos, seeing one online at almost a third or even less of the original price, albeit pre-owned, is just too much to resist. One such online buyer saw a Louis Vuitton bag that normally sells for a little under a hundred thousand pesos going for thirteen thousand five hundred. She could not resist. She pays the seller and waits for the delivery of the bag of her dreams. Nothing. She then tries to contact the seller but discovers the internet site no longer active. Realizing she had just been scammed, she asks help from authorities. This is where she realizes that several other victims have already complained about the same seller. Another lesson learned the hard, expensive way.

And scammers are not limited to things that can be carried around. Victims have surfaced complaining of a supposed broker of Pag-Ibig offering houses that are ready for occupancy after paying an initial down payment. Eventually, it turns out to be a scam. Pag-Ibig denies it has an agent that goes by that name, and that they do not offer such transactions. Another poor victim. Authorities are still trying to apprehend the scammers. Good luck with that.

It really pays to act on the side of caution and skepticism when dealing on the internet. It is the responsibility of online buyers to fully investigate if the online seller is legitimate, with no history of scamming or bad transactions. Whenever money is involved, one needs to make sure they are transacting with a legitimate person or company. The internet does provide convenience, but it comes with a caveat. Ask around. There are forums where netizens can provide valuable feedback. The saying "if something seems too good to be true, it probably is" is absolutely spot-on when it comes to the internet. Just because it is on the internet does not mean it is real, safe, reliable, legitimate. Everyone appreciates convenience. But nowadays, so do criminals.