Nigerians have been cautioned by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission not to shop at phoney internet retailers in advance of the traditional Black Friday holiday sales.
This was revealed in an advisory statement released on Thursday by Babatunde Irukera, the FCCPC’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
Irukera claims that the Commission predicts a thirteen-five percent increase in phoney online retailers.
According to the Commission, in order to meet their needs, Nigerians should exercise caution and only choose reliable and reputable platforms.
According to reliable information received by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), there may be a 135% increase in phoney online stores engaged in scams, deception, and other exploitative behaviour during the traditional seasonal sales at steep discounts on a particular Friday, popularly known as “Black Friday.” Publicly accessible reports like Netcraft support this information.
“During this time, the Commission advises consumers to exercise caution and discernment and to demand and insist on their rights, especially with regard to complete and transparent disclosures,” he stated.
Prior to Black Friday sales, which formally began on November 24–27 following the United States Thanksgiving Day holiday, research firm Netcraft had issued a warning about the growth of fraudulent internet retailers.