CHENNAI: Looking for a good deal on a second-hand branded mobile phone, Dr Sunil Kumar from Thousand Lights browsed through OLX portal. He found a phone that he liked and paid Rs 10,000 to a seller. Little did he know that he would never get the phone.
Falling for a classified ad that promised to offer a luxury product worth Rs10 lakh just for Rs 2 lakh, Arunodayam of Kilpauk paid the money. He neither saw the four-wheeler nor was able to get his money back.
Both Dr Sunil Kumar and Arunodayam were among 11 complainants, who have approached the city police over the past five months, claiming that they have lost money trying to buy second-hand products on online platforms like OLX and Quickr. These portals are not responsible for authenticity of the ads posted on their web pages.
In the light of such increasing number of complaints and a flourishing new trend in online fraud, the city police have sent out an advisory for people who wish to buy used products online. Further, city commissioner S George has also instructed cyber crime officials to write to the portals to check for authenticity of sellers, who post ads on their sites.
They warn buyers not to pay money before seeing the actual product in person. Particularly, those would like to purchase mobile phones, two-wheelers, four-wheelers, camera and laptops, they should the working condition of these products before making a purchase.
Buyers are advised to thoroughly read the terms and conditions posted on these websites. Buyers and sellers are advised to meet in person and check the quality of the product before paying for it. Buyers should also be careful about sellers who refuse to meet in person as they could be fraudsters.
Buyers should not trust those who insist them to send an advance or make payment online before getting the product.
Never trust any seller who tries to convince through video calls that he lives abroad and wish to sell products.
Never deal with sellers who refuse to reveal their address and contact number. Never do online transactions or send cheques to sellers. Never reveal your bank account number or any other information related to it to sellers. Buyers should not trust anyone who attempts to sell products at a lesser price claiming to be at the customs, airport or harbor.
If cheated online, people should bring it to the notice of the police and lodge a formal complaint.
Falling for a classified ad that promised to offer a luxury product worth Rs10 lakh just for Rs 2 lakh, Arunodayam of Kilpauk paid the money. He neither saw the four-wheeler nor was able to get his money back.
Both Dr Sunil Kumar and Arunodayam were among 11 complainants, who have approached the city police over the past five months, claiming that they have lost money trying to buy second-hand products on online platforms like OLX and Quickr. These portals are not responsible for authenticity of the ads posted on their web pages.
In the light of such increasing number of complaints and a flourishing new trend in online fraud, the city police have sent out an advisory for people who wish to buy used products online. Further, city commissioner S George has also instructed cyber crime officials to write to the portals to check for authenticity of sellers, who post ads on their sites.
They warn buyers not to pay money before seeing the actual product in person. Particularly, those would like to purchase mobile phones, two-wheelers, four-wheelers, camera and laptops, they should the working condition of these products before making a purchase.
Buyers are advised to thoroughly read the terms and conditions posted on these websites. Buyers and sellers are advised to meet in person and check the quality of the product before paying for it. Buyers should also be careful about sellers who refuse to meet in person as they could be fraudsters.
Buyers should not trust those who insist them to send an advance or make payment online before getting the product.
Never trust any seller who tries to convince through video calls that he lives abroad and wish to sell products.
Never deal with sellers who refuse to reveal their address and contact number. Never do online transactions or send cheques to sellers. Never reveal your bank account number or any other information related to it to sellers. Buyers should not trust anyone who attempts to sell products at a lesser price claiming to be at the customs, airport or harbor.
If cheated online, people should bring it to the notice of the police and lodge a formal complaint.
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