Navigating online Computer Village transactions to avert deceitful deals from merchants?
In the bustling heart of Lagos, Nigeria, the renowned Computer Village has long been a hub for affordable and resourceful gadget deals and repair services. However, the market's reputation has suffered in recent years, with reports of scams, counterfeit products, and bait-and-switch schemes that have eroded customer trust.
Bello Lateef, a long-time gadget trader, believes that buyers unknowingly expose themselves to scams when they deal with merchants who have no physical shops and lure them with cheaper prices. To avoid falling victim, Lateef suggests that new customers visiting Computer Village should look for physical shops with visible branding, such as banners displaying the shop owner’s image and phone number. Contacting the owner directly via these details helps verify the legitimacy of the business and avoid impersonators.
When buying online, Adebiyi, another gadget seller at Computer Village, advises buyers to do basic background checks. This includes verifying the seller's page, checking their online activities, reading customer feedback, and being cautious of intermediaries. Fraudsters may repost items to lure buyers and then disappear with payment.
Online marketplaces like Jiji remain largely self-regulated, leaving buyers vulnerable to scams. To combat this, platforms like BlackTrust encourage consumers to report fraudulent businesses and scams to protect others. It is also essential to prefer official channels for transactions and inquiries to avoid sharing sensitive information with unknown parties.
To verify a gadget's authenticity, Lateef advises buyers to cross-check the serial number and ensure that the details match with what is on the carton. Missing components or mismatched parts (e.g., a phone with a different brand’s battery or screen) signal tampering.
Many buyers who visit Computer Village end up paying for empty parcels or items that develop faults shortly after. A case in point is 22-year-old Victor Adakole, who visited the market in May to buy an iPhone 13 and repair his PlayStation 5. Adakole lost ₦15,000 to a fake repairman, causing him to abandon his plan to buy the phone.
Merchants in the market are rethinking how they engage with customers in light of this reputation. They now leverage social media and e-commerce platforms like JiJi to improve transparency, rebuild trust, and expand their reach. Joseph Daniel, who has spent eight years selling phones and accessories at the market, said he turned to digital platforms as part of his business survival strategy, majorly relying on Jiji and WhatsApp to drive sales.
Buyers like Yetunde David are taking proactive measures to protect themselves. David double-checks vendors online, reviews their social media presence for customer feedback, confirms their contact number if reachable, before tracing them to their physical shops.
Despite these efforts, online footprints can disappear physically, leaving buyers vulnerable to deception. In 2023, Umar Tijani was scammed while purchasing an iPhone XS Max from an Instagram vendor, receiving a used product instead of a new one.
In conclusion, by combining these practical precautions—verifying physical presence and identity of sellers, scrutinizing product authenticity, and using trustworthy channels—consumers can better shield themselves from scams and ensure they receive genuine products and quality repair services at Computer Village and on e-commerce sites like JiJi.
- Buyers at Computer Village, like Yetunde David, proactively verify vendors online, checking their social media presence, customer feedback, and contact number before visiting their physical shops, aiming to ensure they are dealing with legitimate businesses.
- For online purchases, Adebiyi advises buyers to conduct background checks, including verifying the seller's page, checking their online activities, and reading customer feedback, to avoid falling victim to fraudsters who may repost items and disappear with payment.
