BY MAXINE KAMUS
Given the increase in small to medium enterprises and micro medium enterprises in the country there has been lot of scammers taking advantage of customers by getting their money and not delivering the product they had paid for.
President of PNG SME Council, Des Yaninen said places like Facebook Groups such as PNG SMEs for Change and others are rife with small-medium enterprises (SMEs) and micro medium enterprises (MSMEs) scammers.
Mr Yaninen said the real SMEs do not scam others and they are worried about their reputation and brand perception.
“Scammers are not SMEs. They are criminals pretending to be SMEs,” he said.
“They ask for payment upfront and promise to deliver but they don’t.
“I know many people who have become victims of such scams.
I know that they are real because my family and friends have been scammed.”
He said there are a few steps that customers can take to protect themselves from scams when purchasing items online.
“Firstly, research the seller: Look for reviews and ask for references from the seller.
“Consider searching for the seller’s name or business name online to see if there are any complaints from other customers.
“Do not pay 100 per cent payment upfront. If you must pay, only pay say 20 per cent upfront and the rest when the items are delivered,” Mr Yaninen said.
“Customers must get a receipt: Make sure to get a receipt for the purchase, including all relevant details such as the seller’s name,…
