The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a warning to consumers, urging extra vigilance when interacting with certain suppliers during Black Friday, the festive season, and beyond. This follows the identification of around 40 suppliers that have either disappeared or cannot be traced at the addresses listed on their sales records or websites.
The suppliers in question were flagged after the NCC received numerous complaints from affected consumers who had purchased products either online or in-store. According to the commission, these suppliers accepted orders, took payment, and failed to deliver the goods or services as promised. In many cases, the suppliers moved from their known addresses without providing forwarding contact details, and some abandoned their websites altogether.
“The modus operandi observed is that these suppliers take consumers’ money and fail to deliver the goods or services expected,” said the NCC. “Online suppliers are also involved, accepting payments and then deactivating their websites or delinking them entirely.”
The NCC has warned consumers to avoid doing business with the listed suppliers, as they are believed to be attempting to defraud customers.
Under the Consumer Protection Act (CPA), suppliers are required to provide accurate sales records, including physical addresses, contact numbers, and websites, to ensure consumers and authorities can locate them easily. The NCC reminded suppliers of their obligations under the CPA, which prohibits misleading or deceptive marketing. This includes false advertising about the condition, price, or value of goods, or misrepresenting a price in comparison to previous or competitor prices.
As Black Friday continues and the festive season approaches, the NCC advises consumers to be particularly cautious when making purchases. Knowing the original prices of items will help shoppers determine whether discounts are legitimate or inflated. The commission also warned about online stores that may appear to be legitimate businesses but are, in fact, scams.
The list of suppliers identified by the NCC is available on its website. Any supplier who has become traceable can contact the NCC to be removed from the list.