February 3, 2021 @ 2:45pm
GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged consumers to be wary when buying laptops or computers (either old, refurbished or new), especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This was because they were potential targets for scammers or opportunists who prey on people making hasty decisions during such times.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader also called on the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) to continue monitoring the sales of computer and computer equipment.
He said with the emergence of online businesses and students having to study online, there had been a spike in demand for laptops or computers.
"CAP wants to caution people wanting to purchase such devices or equipment to be wary of three particular things namely scams, warranties and prices.
"Try not to purchase through social media such as Facebook or WhatsApp because it is not possible to know the reliability of the seller.
"It would be advisable to acquire a second-hand or refurbished equipment from someone you know and preferably known to be reliable. The reason is that, if there is anything wrong, you can easily find the person as compared to one who lives far away.
"There have been cases of people buying electronic items from other states only to discover that the equipment is defective," he said today.
Mohideen cited the case of a woman who had purchased a "deal of a lifetime" iPhone, only to find a rusty lock (without any key) inside the parcel she received after making payment.
Her calls were blocked when she attempted to contact the seller.
According to Mohideen, if it is a new product that a consumer is buying, shop around for the specifications and the price, without rushing into the purchase.
He also advised consumers to seek advice of friends who are knowledgeable in the field.
"The device/equipment, for most business transactions such as online payments and online education, need internet connection. Again, you have to determine which internet service is best for you because the connectivity of some internet lines may not be good in your area. Ask your neighbours perhaps and gauge their feedback which may guide you in your decision.
"Also, check if there is any warranty left when purchasing the device. Some manufacturers allow consumers to check the warranty online based on the serial number of the device," he said, adding that buying from a known acquaintance residing nearby would also enable the buyer to test the device first.
Mohideen also pointed out the existence of "money mules" in which there is a valid bank account to deposit payments but the purchase is just a scam.
(A money mule is a person paid for services with a small amount of money transferred. The mule may not even realise that their account is being used for illegal money transfers from buyers to scam operators.)
People can also check if their bank accounts or others had been used in scams or other fraudulent activities at http://ccid.rmp.gov.my/semakmule/
As for the government, Mohideen said online education was unavoidable during the Covid-19 pandemic, but they have to consider those from the B40 group, most of whom cannot afford to own a laptop which also needs internet connection for online education.
"These are the people who will be left behind in their studies," he stressed.
