E-commerce head urges scam arbitration for safer online shopping in Hong Kong

An e-commerce industry leader has suggested that Hong Kong allow a popular quick payment operator to arbitrate online transactions amid the rising trend of internet shopping scams, while also urging buyers not to use bank accounts for purchases.

Stanley Lee Kei-chuen, head of the E-Commerce Association of Hong Kong, said on Friday that many Hongkongers used their bank accounts for online shopping transactions, putting them at risk of scams.

He explained that, unlike in Hong Kong, most individuals throughout the world used third-party payment processors such as PayPal or credit cards.

“As an industry representative, we always say online shopping is safe. The unsafe part is your payment method,” he told a radio programme.

“You should never use your bank account to pay for the transactions. You should use third-party payment methods because they act as an arbitration body.”