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Vietnam to publicly shame e-commerce frauds

E-commerce operators which conduct trade fraud and violate customers rights will be blacklisted on the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Web site.
Written by Kevin Kwang, Contributor

Vietnam has introduced a new ruling to deter online fraud by promising to blacklist e-commerce operators that have been reported to be violating customers' rights or engaged in fraudulent activities.

Vietnam News reported last Saturday the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will publish online trade fraud offenders on its Web site in a move to protect consumers as e-commerce starts to flourish in the country.

"Besides a number of administrative measures to punish Web sites [which have violated regulations], publicizing their names would be the most effective measure," said Tran Huu Linh, head of MoIT's department of e-commerce.

Complaints relating to online trade fraud and violations of online trade contracts, personal information protection and online payments will all be considered, the MoIT revealed. Whistleblowers must provide the name of the Web site flouting the rules, as well as their personal information such as name, personal identity card number, address and phone number, it added.

After five complaints have been lodged against the same operator, the Web site owner must give an official explanation addressing the issues raised. Should the owner fail to satisfy the MoIT's inquiries within 30 days, the ministry will blacklist the company on its Web site, the report noted. 

According to Vietnam News, more than 1.5 million transactions on 30 e-commerce sites were carried out by late 2012, which generated a total revenue of 4.1 trillion dong (US$196 million).

 

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