Have you ever wanted to purchase your new phone online? Fake listings are still rampant on eCommerce platforms if you are not knowledgeable on how to navigate it. Unbox has investigated so you won’t need to worry about these next time. 

Yes, you heard that right. Fake listings are still there. Our parameter included searching for brands and generic keywords on eCommerce sites. Here’s what we got.

Our takeaway: It’s hard to look at Shopee if you’re not logged in, and all the results all floated item listings from Shopee Mall first. It is a different story, though, when we looked at Lazada and we searched for the same keywords.

Of the first 8 listings we got from typing these keywords both with and without an account, the majority of the results from these brands had fake products:

 

• realme: 8 of the first 8 listings on the first page are fake. 

• OPPO: 6 of the first 8 listings on the first page are fake. The last two listings are from LazMall, but we found something about it. 

• Vivo: 4 of the first 8 listings on the first page are fake. Two of the four fake listings are from the same merchant we found with our OPPO search. 

• Samsung: All of the first 8 listings are genuine. 

• Huawei: 5 of the first 8 listings are fake. 

• HONOR: The first four listings on the first page are fake. 

• Infinix: 2 of the first 8 listings on the first page are fake. 

• TECNO: 1 of the first 8 listings on the first page are fake.

 

Some of these brand searches had LazMall listings, but we found out a merchant also sells dupes from OPPO and other brands as seen with its reviews upon our closer inspection. We’ve verified the packaging of some of the merchant’s listings with some brands and confirmed it to be not genuine products. How did these end up on a section of a website that guarantees you get legitimate items?

This is one example. The fake photo on the right is from a review of a listing from the said merchant, while the left one is the genuine packaging. An unsuspecting customer would not notice it at all since everything is transacted online.

READ MORE:

• Infinix Warns Everyone Regarding Fake Phones in the Philippines

We’ve reached out to Lazada on how they are trying to remove the dupes on their listings, to which we have yet to receive a reply.

 

Why are fake listings on the first page?

Your guess can be as good as mine, and there is no correct answer unless it is revealed. There could be many ways in which these fake listings can rise in a platform’s listings.

1. Fake orders bringing attention. Platforms usually highlight products that have high demand and have been given consecutive good ratings to get better rankings. There have been incidents of other stores using your personal information to deliver items to your home that you did not order. To create a false sense of demand and high rate for a listing, unscrupulous merchants create new accounts with your personal information, deliver cartons or nonsense items to unsuspecting real customers, and place dupe merchants.
2. Slot selling. Platforms need to earn aside from the small fees they impose on merchants, and in-app marketing is always seen to be a way for brands and merchants to make their products shine higher. Some resort to slot selling, where products of a certain merchant appear on top of a list whenever search keywords are toggled. Think of it as what you usually see with Google Ads with these phishing websites when you search for something like NBI Clearance or How to Request for Birth Certificate online.
3. More optimized listings. Putting a product online on a huge platform like Shopee or Lazada is the same as making a website or YouTube video. Merchants are always advised to use optimizing techniques to ensure their products stay on the first few pages, reaching more eyeballs.

 

Tips when buying phones online

We’ve always retained that anyone is free to purchase their new devices anywhere, offline or online. Here are some quick tips on how you can get all of your money’s worth.

1. Stick to the trusted brand stores on Malls. Almost all brands with products available in the Philippines have their online stores for you to check out those sweet new phones. You can also check the multi-brand dealers like Electroworld, Abenson, Ansons, Rules, Audionet, and more if you’re purchasing from more brands to reduce your shipping fees.
2. Ask for a vouch for non-mall stores: You can ask a Facebook group that caters to the brand or device you want to purchase. Go and ask to have a store vouched, or check the merchant’s history online, if they have other platforms where they promote their listings. It doesn’t take a few seconds to Google anything before deciding on that final purchase.
3. Document the arrival and unboxing. While the DTI has ruled that the “No Video, No Refund” rule is illegal, it is always important to have tangible evidence to present. Always record a video of your deliveries as you unpack them to ensure you get the correct items, and for your dispute claims to have stronger backing.

It is important to know your way around eCommerce platforms so you get the genuine products you worked hard for. With rampant listings of fake products still online, one can avoid pitfalls with a vigilant stance and a more discerning eye when purchasing things.