The proliferation of social networking sites in Tunisia has left the door wide open to scams and rip-offs. While some sites have a reputation for reliability and often deliver products that match the advertised description, others have chosen the easy money route!
On the Internet, several groups have been set up by Internet users to denounce the scams and bad deals often found on social networks, particularly Facebook, the leading network used by Tunisians, with 7,625,400 local users, or 64% of the country’s Internet users.
Fraudsters use social networks to sell their dubious goods. They promise the best with misleading advertising messages. But once caught in their web, consumers know where they stand.
That leaves self-defense. Simply ignore these platforms and stop using them to buy anything. Unless there are upfront guarantees, it is best not to do business with these merchants.
If a customer does fall for their scam, they should take precautions. The first thing to do is to ask for the delivery person’s ID.
Secondly, it is important to open the package to ensure that the goods delivered are those ordered. If the customer notices any anomalies, they should not accept the parcel.
Finally, it’s a good idea to record the make and registration number of the vehicle used by the delivery driver.
Just to be on the safe side. So far, e-commerce has used every trick in the book to deceive people and make huge profits at their expense.
It’s hard to control all these electronic transactions!
The Ministry of Trade defines e-commerce as commercial operations and transactions conducted using information and communication technologies, especially the Internet.
In a recent study on economic reforms, the ministry placed emphasis on the black economy in Tunisia and specifically addressed the issue of illegal e-commerce.
According to official statistics from the Ministry of Trade, there were around 2,182 e-commerce sites in 2020, while the number of electronic transactions increased by a significant 67% to 6.4 million as a result of the COVID pandemic.
The Ministry has also admitted that it is difficult to control all these electronic transactions, as most of them fall outside the scope of current legislation.
According to the National Chamber of E-Commerce and Distance Selling, under the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UITCA), about 70% of e-commerce transactions take place on the parallel market.
The total volume of e-commerce sales in 2020 is estimated at around 200 million dinars, of which only a third were legal.
In short, we are dealing with the spread of this alarming phenomenon in our country. Anyone can claim the status of trader and take advantage of the benefits offered by the various networks.
