More on online scams

By Herbert Vego

IN this corner a few weeks ago, I warned against Facebook ads selling “energy saver” online at  ₱500, claiming that the mouse-like gadget could reduce electricity bills by as much as 50 percent.

Not true. It’s a scam that has victimized buyers, including this writer.

The manufacturer must have found this scam so profitable that their paid video ads on Facebook keep on re-appearing periodically, preying on customers who have not yet fallen “victims”.

The fake energy saver is just one of the many products, including drugs, advertised online. There was a time when I ordered a pack of “Cardio___” containing 20 capsules for ₱2,000 after reading a paid Facebook ad featuring an octogenarian doctor kuno, Dr. Maria Santos, who attributed her longevity to the said product. How naïve I was!

My doctor warned me not to buy the product again because non-prescription drugs sold online could be mere placebos with no therapeutic value.

A placebo, says Mr. Webster, “is an inert substance used especially in controlled experiments testing the efficacy of another substance, such as a drug.”

You must have seen on TV a bed-ridden Dr. Willy Ong who struggled blaming unnamed individuals over a scam selling online products where he appears to be endorsing eye drops for cataract. He said that his “voice” in the video was a “replica”.

Similar “medical miracles” continue to hook gullible online responders. A most expensive one is an “anti-aging” brand of “oral stem cells” costing more than a hundred thousand pesos for the suggested seven bottles of 60 capsules in each bottle.

Woe unto us who fail to realize that the reason they are not sold in legitimate drug stores is because they don’t deliver their promise.

There’s this case of my friend Manny who fell for a sales gimmick – two pieces of saw which could cut through steel for only P300.

When the items arrived, the saws were small, as if they were children’s toys, and could not even cut a branch of a small tree.

A retired educator, Aurora ordered a flip-flap ceramic pan. But when she opened the delivered box, it was just an ordinary metal pan.

She also ordered an “electric pot with steamer”.  To her dismay, she got one without a steamer.

If it was any consolation, Au-au, hind ka nag-iisa. Many others have complained to the Department of Trade and Industry (DOT), whether in person or through formal letters.

We are also aware of a wide variety of online investments over the internet. They can usually be seen on Facebook enticing people to invest in money lending or financing businesses that claim to earn profits as high as 12% weekly or 48% monthly.

Investment scams are like wolves in sheep’s clothing, targeting people who are eager for financial success. Once they bite the bait, the victims are left holding an empty bag.

Scammers will send you an email, letter or text message saying you have won a lot of money or fantastic prizes in a lottery or competition you are not aware of in the first place.

Scammers create email messages with a forged sender address. They usually disguise themselves as legitimate banks, newspapers, companies, and the like. Spoofing contains fake offers, asking for a person’s password, OTP, and other personal information.

May we ask Cong. Jam-Jam Baronda to file a bill penalizing online traders who do not allow customers to examine the items before payment, and return them in case the delivered products do not match the items ordered?

-oOo-

MAYOR JPT CONGRATULATES THE NEW ILED PRESIDENT

JOY FANTILAGA, the spokesperson of Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, sent us a congratulatory message from him to MORE Power President Roel Z. Castro. The message reads:

“On behalf of the City of Iloilo, I extend my warmest congratulations to you on your election as the new President of the Iloilo Local Economic Development (ILED). Your leadership and expertise as President and CEO of MORE Power have already proven invaluable, and I am confident that you will continue to inspire and lead Iloilo’s business community to new heights.

“ILED brings together all business organizations in Iloilo City under one roof, one direction, and one purpose. With your vision and guidance, ILED will give us new impetus for development and progress. Your dedication to Iloilo’s growth aligns perfectly with our city’s aspirations to become a hub of innovation and economic vitality.

“Rest assured, the Iloilo City Government will fully support the programs and projects of ILED. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with ILED to ensure the continued growth and success of our city.

“Once again, congratulations and best wishes!”