Scam businesses are everywhere on the internet, and it pays to know how to spot scammers when making online transactions. 

Scammers seem to be everywhere as of late. In fact, according to TransUnion’s 2024 State of Omnichannel Fraud Report, 68% of Filipino consumers have reported that they have been targeted by fraud attempts from September to December 2023. The figure includes online scams.

Online fraud attempts come in different forms, such as scam businesses found online. With the rise of e-commerce in the Philippines, more and more Filipinos have been making online transactions, particularly online shopping. 

Now that it’s possible to buy a wide variety of products on social media marketplaces as well as e-commerce platforms, many scammers have set up fraudulent businesses to take advantage of eager shoppers and even viral trends on the internet. 

Take the viral chocolate bars from Dubai as an example. Social media platforms, particularly TikTok, have seen an increase in posts about the loaded pistachio chocolate bars from FIX Dessert Chocolatier. In fact, one particular TikTok video about these chocolate bars has been viewed more than 56 million times. 

As with any viral product making its rounds on social media, Filipinos have been eager to get their hands on FIX chocolate bars. There is, however, one problem. These chocolate bars can only be bought from Dubai. 

Joining the Hype 

Given how challenging it is to access these chocolate bars, those who want to get a taste of this viral treat have to resort to other options. Some opted for pasabuy, which means asking friends or family to buy the product for them, while others saw an opportunity to recreate these pistachio chocolate bars to sell in their own businesses. 

Apron Girl PH owner Len Ilagan-David was one of those who recreated the viral chocolate bar for her business. According to her, “I always check out TikTok for viral trends, and this one was so mind-blowingly popular that we had to create an individual cup version.” 

She soon began offering her Pistachio Chocolate Cups on the menu, which quickly became a hit among her customers. Demand grew, which meant she needed to make sure she had a steady supply of ingredients, particularly the pistachio spread, which is a crucial ingredient in her recipe. 

“I’ve had several successful transactions with another seller I found on Facebook Marketplace, but this was when pistachio spread was still widely available, including at S&R, the Apron Girl PH owner recounted. “Eventually, a lot of people started making their own version of the viral Dubai pistachio chocolate bar, and soon, the pistachio spread was sold out everywhere, including with my trusted seller.” 

Encountering a Scammer

Wanting to satisfy the demand, Len went to look for another supplier of the pistachio spread she needed. This proved to be more difficult than anticipated, but a customer had come to the rescue by telling her about a seller on Facebook Marketplace offering the spread at a competitive price. 

“I reached out to the seller immediately, and she responded promptly,” she said. “I checked her Facebook page and saw numerous posts about imported snacks and goods.” 

However, she began to notice certain red flags that made her doubt the legitimacy of the business that she was transacting with. 

“Looking back, the first red flag was that the Facebook page was fairly new and had no comments on the photos of the imported snacks being sold. Typically, FB Marketplace sellers have reviews, but this one didn’t,” said Len. “Additionally, the seller messaged me from her personal Facebook account, which at the time didn’t seem unusual to me.”

Another red flag took place when she was trying to pay for the products she was ordering. According to Len, when she tried to pay for the goods in full via online banking, the payment did not go through, and the seller insisted she didn’t receive any money despite Len’s bank account showing the deduction. 

She ended up calling the bank and was informed that her money was actually just floating. The money was eventually credited back to her account. 

“I wasn’t sure if this was part of the scam to make me feel apologetic,” Len admitted. “My initial thought was, ‘I don’t want this seller to think I’m a scammer.’”

Realizing She Was Scammed

Len eventually realized she had been scammed when it took very long for her order to be delivered to her. 

“I eventually realized I was scammed when the seller kept on making excuses why the availability of the product got delayed and even promised to deliver the goods straight to my house,” she said. 

Len realized that this was simply not possible because the delivery wasn’t included in the invoice. “And no legitimate business would offer free delivery from Bulacan to Parañaque,” she added. 

What to Look Out For 

The Apron Girl PH owner is just one of the many victims of scammers who put up fake businesses and listings on social media and e-commerce platforms these days. These scammers have skillfully mastered how to make legitimate-looking pages and listings, which makes it more challenging to spot fraudulent businesses. 

However, there are signs that can point out the legitimacy or lack thereof of an online business. According to Len, “Any transaction that seems ‘too good to be true’ should raise red flags.”

“Thoroughly check the history of their Facebook page,” she said. “If it’s new and they upload photos in bulk without any comments, likes, or reviews, it’s likely just a fake facade.”

“Also, if the payment method is complicated or there are issues with it, don’t proceed with the transaction,” the Apron Girl PH owner added. 

Going back to the example of the FIX chocolate bars, many Filipinos who want to get their hands on the actual bar rely on pasabuy pages for orders. Believe it or not, some pasabuy pages charge as high as PHP 2,500 per bar. A FIX chocolate bar retails for around PHP 1,000 per bar in Dubai. 

Interested customers need to pay a lot of money to get their hands on these viral chocolate bars, and it’s important to verify if a pasabuy service is legitimate or not first before starting any transaction.

Pasabuy Dubai Shop, a Dubai-based pasabuy service, advises interested customers to check the legitimacy of a seller by asking for their Emirates ID to verify that they are in Dubai. Customers should also ask for proof of shipment, particularly past shipments made by the pasabuy service. 

Constant Vigilance 

Given the convenience of online marketplaces, many have relied on these platforms to make purchases and avail of services. However, these have also been abused by scammers who hope to trick unknowing customers and steal their money. So how can customers avoid the possibility of becoming a victim of scammers?  

“Be extra vigilant,” said Len. “Diligently examine the Facebook or Instagram page (whichever platform you’re using) thoroughly.” It is also good practice to check for reviews to ensure that the business is a reliable one and does exist.  

“If you’re buying a large quantity with a significant price, I highly suggest avoiding new sellers you don’t know,” the Apron Girl PH owner advised. “Only order from trusted and established sellers.” 

In this day and age where scammers seem to just be everywhere, the key to protecting oneself from falling victim to scams is constant vigilance.