In Tunisia, the flourishing trade on social networks 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 better.
Overconfidence and deception
According to Visa’s latest Stay Secure study, overconfidence is leaving Tunisian consumers vulnerable to fraud and deception. Although almost half of those surveyed (49%) say they are adequately warned to avoid online and telephone scams, the reality is that eight out of ten (86%) are likely to ignore warning signs of criminal activity online.
The Visa 2023 Stay Secure Study, conducted by Wakefield Research, reveals that just over four in ten people (43%) in Tunisia have been a victim of fraud. More worryingly, 15% have been scammed several times.
According to the study, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with perpetrators using new techniques to trick unsuspecting consumers. Whether it’s a package held up at customs, a subscription to a streaming service that claims to have expired or a free voucher for a favorite brand, fraudsters are using highly persuasive tactics to fool their victims.
It’s hard to police all these electronic transactions!
The Ministry of Commerce defines e-commerce as commercial operations and transactions conducted using information and communication technologies, particularly the Internet.
In a recent study on economic reforms, the ministry highlighted 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 (UITCA), around 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 will be legal.
