Consumer group supports bill vs online fraud

MANILA, Philippines -  A consumer group led by former trade undersecretary Victorio Dimagiba has expressed support to a House bill seeking to provide protection to consumers and merchants engaging in online commerce by penalizing offenders.

House Bill 2646, authored by Rep. Wes Gatchalian of Valenzuela City, aims to address cybercrimes, particularly online scam cases, in the country.

Dimagiba, president of Laban Konsyumer Inc., said service providers and resellers located abroad must register as prescribed in the bill.

Otherwise, he said the Department of Information and Communication Technology shall be given the mandate to moto proprio block their websites in the Philippines.

Dimagiba further said service providers and resellers should be both liable for consumer redress and that any quitclaim on the solidary liability is a void stipulation.

“The advent of digital technology and the internet have changed consumers’ lives dramatically. The speed in which this has occurred has meant in some areas changes in the digital marketplace are outpacing consumer protection. There is evidence people are worried about many aspects of what is happening when they go online,” Dimagiba said.

Laban Konsyumer reported a total of 555 online scam complaints were received by the Philippine National Police Anti Cyber Crime Group from 2016 up to the present, 44 of which were recorded since the start of the year.

Most victims, it said, are doing online buying and selling.

Laban Konsyumer had proposed to partner with the Digital Commerce of the Philippines, as well as online entities such as Lazada and Zalora, and Air21 global solutions and Digital Filipina in enhancing consumer awareness for the benefit and advantage of digital commerce.