Nigerian-based online marketplace in Africa, Jiji Nigeria, yesterday said it has consistently improved on its platform to make online transactions safer and more secure, and also ensure that customers get everything they want and the best deals easily during this year’s Black Friday.
In an exclusive chat with The Nation, the Public Relations (PR) and Marketing Head of Jiji Nigeria, Majolie Obaje, said the e-commerce platform has built a robust platform that allows people to sell or buy products and services based on their needs and budgets in a safe and secure manner, ahead of the expected increase in online shopping activities this Black Friday.
Black Friday is a colloquial term for the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, and is regarded as one of the biggest shopping events of the year, marked by increased online shopping activities.
For instance, in 2021’s Black Friday, following the COVID-19 pandemic of the previous year, an estimated 154.5 million people purchased goods and services valued at about $8.9 billion in the United States alone.
Obaje, however, said the frenzied and frenetic nature of Black Friday presents an incentive for fraudsters to carry out their nefarious activities, quoting cyber security expert and CEO of Mine, Gal Ringel, as saying that “up to 30 per cent to 50 per cent of the annual average of data breaches happen in November and December alone”.
The Jiji Nigeria PR/Marketing Head, however, said in view of this year’s Black Friday, the e-commerce platform has come up with ways both buyers and sellers can protect themselves from online scams in this season.
While pointing out that knowledge and caution are tools that protect customers from being deceived or scammed, Obaje said never giving out one’s financial information is one of the major tips to make online transactions safe.
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“Under no circumstances should you give out your bank account details, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Personal Identification Number (PIN), online banking One Time Password (OTP), or any other sensitive information that could be misused by a third party,” she advised.
Obaje also said customers must check the website link properly. According to her, “Fraudsters can sometimes use cloned websites to trap victims, so check the spelling of the website’s Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and check that it uses the https:// protocol on the address bar. You could also check for reviews and ratings of that marketplace site.”
She also advised customers to be careful of what they click on, noting that since messaging apps have become common, they must exercise extra caution in clicking on links on their phone. “This is because hackers can insert malicious code on a website that extracts your online payment details. These hackers also send phishing emails, links or forms that also try to achieve the same objectives. So, think before you click,” Obaje cautioned.
She further warned that “If it appears too good to be true, it probably is.” “Imagine that a vendor offers you an item at a ridiculously lower cost than everyone else. Stop and think before you part with your cash. Check other vendors or sites for a comparative price benchmark for that product, and try not to pay ahead before seeing and inspecting the products,” Obaje averred.
She, however, told The Nation that it is not all doom and gloom on Black Fridays, as reputable marketplaces offer real sales.
“For instance, Jiji provides vendors an opportunity to make discounts on their products this special season. You can find up to 60 per cent off deals on their dedicated landing pages. As long as you stick to the safety tips, you have a great chance of grabbing the best deals ever!,” Obaje said.
According to her, research has shown that digital trade has become a key driver of business growth worldwide, and Africa isn’t exempt as a huge number of young Africans are involved in the digital revolution happening across the continent. In fact, e-commerce has spurred innovation and become a catalyst for dramatic economic transformation across the continent.
Obaje stated that the digitization of the economy has continued to create exciting opportunities for young people in developing countries, with Nigeria recently ranked as the 35th largest market for e-commerce globally and signposted as having recorded a yearly growth of 42 per cent.
“This is clearly evidenced by the rise in digital marketplaces activities across the country,” Obaje told The Nation, citing said a 2020 report which said 26 per cent of Nigerians bought products online even as platforms like Jiji have seen monthly active users increase to about 12 million and employ a team of over 400 people to engage consumers.
“This showcases the huge economic benefits – job creation, economic empowerment, and value creation, derived from these digital marketplaces,” she emphasised.
She pointing out that one key attraction of these digital marketplaces is the triple-edged advantage in providing vendors with a platform to sell their products to consumers anywhere in the country, as well as the visibility required to scale and grow their small businesses while saving costs on operating expenses.