Three local residents have separately fallen victim to online “hairy crab” shopping scams recently, losing a total of 4,878 patacas, Judiciary Police (PJ) spokesman Chao Teng Hin said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Chao, the three victims browsed a fake seafood store’s Facebook page claiming to sell various seafood products at discounted prices. The victims then contacted the “seller” through the page. After both parties agreed on a price, the scammer requested payment via MPay, assuring the victims that they would receive a receipt and confirmation email after transferring the money. However, after making the payments, none of the victims received any confirmation. Some tried to contact the scammer but found the account unresponsive. Suspecting they had been defrauded, the victims finally reported their cases individually to the Judiciary Police on Wednesday.
According to a PJ statement at noon yesterday, the Judiciary Police’s Anti-Fraud Coordination Centre is urging the public to refrain from hastily conducting transactions with unfamiliar online accounts, especially those promoting goods at discounted prices. The centre urged online shoppers to look for merchants with physical outlets, or verify the merchants’ authenticity, before proceeding with a transaction. The centre advised buyers to exercise caution during online shopping and be wary of any “pay first, deliver later” transaction requests, Moreover, the statement said, if fraud is suspected, the online shopper should contact the Judiciary Police’s “Anti-Fraud App” to check the risk level, call the Anti-Fraud Enquiry Hotline on 8800 7777 or the Emergency Hotline on 993 for assistance.
Meanwhile, according to a Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) statement yesterday, its “Registration System for Retail Establishments of Fresh and Live Food” has come into effect. All businesses retailing fresh and live food, such as hairy crabs, must be registered in accordance with the law. If the internet, social media platforms, or third-party trading platforms are used as business or promotional channels, the companies’ registration number and other relevant details must be displayed on those platforms for consumer identification, the statement said.
The statement also said that the bureau reminds the public to only purchase hairy crabs from reputable and hygienically reliable stores, selecting live crabs that are active, have no odour, and have intact and glossy shells.
When buying hairy crabs online, it is also essential to clearly understand the origin of the crustaceans, the statement said.
This undated handout image provided by the Judiciary Police (PJ) yesterday urges residents to be wary of online hairy crab purchase scams.
