Cover Leading e-commerce platform in Malaysia, TikTok Shop, partnered with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) to spread awareness on avoiding online shopping scams through its #ShopSafe awareness initiative (Photo: Unsplash)
Leading e-commerce platform in Malaysia, TikTok Shop, partnered with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) to spread awareness on avoiding online shopping scams through its #ShopSafe awareness initiative (Photo: Unsplash)
1 / 1
Leading e-commerce platform in Malaysia, TikTok Shop, partnered with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) to spread awareness on avoiding online shopping scams through its #ShopSafe awareness initiative
We all likely know someone who has purchased things from TikTok Shop, TikTok’s one-stop e-commerce solution driving brand growth and direct sales. Unfortunately, we also likely know at least one person who has been scammed online in their attempts to chase the best bargains and deals.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), TikTok Shop aims to empower Malaysians to stay vigilant online through its #ShopSafe online scam awareness campaign, part of a wider online scam awareness initiative.
“Safety is our top priority at TikTok Shop. We continuously invest in people and technologies for Malaysians to enjoy worry-free and secure online shopping experiences, such as through our robust 15-Day Free Return and Refund Policies,” says TikTok Shop Malaysia’s director of strategic partnerships, Nur Azre Abdul Aziz, highlighting the platform’s safeguards to facilitate simplified and fair after-sales requests for customers facing issues with their orders.
“In the first half of 2024, we proactively rejected 20.4 million attempted product listings and two million seller account registrations globally that did not meet our standards. Combatting online scams is a collaborative effort and we are immensely thankful to KPDN for their support in educating Malaysians on our #ShopSafe tips. Together, we can keep our community informed and up to date on new scam trends, along with ways to safeguard each other against it.
Read more: Is banning Tiktok—and other social media—the right way to protect children?
Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of KPDN, emphasised: “A large majority of reported e-commerce scams are conducted outside of legitimate online shopping platforms and apps, where bad actors redirect consumers off-platform to complete transactions, either through phone numbers, suspicious links, or direct debits.”
“TikTok Shop's dedication to championing the rights and safety of consumers is commendable, and we are delighted to partner with TikTok Shop to educate Malaysians on best practices when shopping online and to empower them with the right knowledge and tools to #ShopSafe digitally,” he adds.
See more: A year in AI: Here are the most transformative highlights from Malaysia in 2024
Above TikTok Shop aims to empower Malaysians to stay vigilant online through its #ShopSafe online scam awareness campaign, part of a wider online scam awareness initiative
TikTok Shop aims to empower Malaysians to stay vigilant online through its #ShopSafe online scam awareness campaign, part of a wider online scam awareness initiative
1 / 1
From avoiding external links and APK files to reporting violative behaviours via the in-app reporting channel, the following #ShopSafe tips will hopefully help you and your loved ones evade the wiles of scammers on social media in a time when shopping on social media platforms is more popular than ever.
- Avoid off-platform purchases. TikTok Shop users can and should conduct online purchases using only the official app, which enforces Product Listing Guidelines and Seller Registration Guidelines. Policies such as the Platform Abuse Policy, Anti-Counterfeit Policy, and TikTok Shop Mall's 100 per cent Authenticity Guarantee, actively detect and minimise
any potential fraudulent activities and deceptive behaviours on the platform - Only engage in online transactions through TikTok Shop’s secure in-app payment gateways. All purchases can then be verified and tracked on the in-app order history, even when opting for Cash-On-Delivery (COD) transactions.
- Be wary of suspicious links and misspelled websites. Never download TikTok’s apps via external links or download APK files. The TikTok app is officially listed by ‘TikTok Pte. Ltd.’, so avoid any counterfeits with different names.
- Avoid sharing sensitive or personal information with other people. Stay vigilant and avoid disclosing sensitive personal information to potential scammers pretending to be TikTok Shop employees, authorities, or government officials. TikTok Shop will never ask for users' sensitive personal information, such as passwords, TACs, and debit/credit card details through direct messaging, phone calls, or emails. As an additional layer of protection, users should activate the 2-step verification feature on the TikTok app, which protects their accounts even when passwords are compromised.
- Report violative behaviours In-App. Users are encouraged to directly report violative products, content, and sellers on
TikTok Shop via the in-app reporting channel, available on every product display page. Users can also reach out to live agents in-app for enquiries about their TikTok Shop orders, via the Help Center page.
Adds Azre: “Together, we can keep our community informed and up to date on new scam trends, along with ways to safeguard each other against it.”
Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
