The results of the sweep carried out by the European Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) to protect consumers against unfair commercial practices related to Covid-19 on digital platforms were published by the European Commission on Tuesday 26 May (see EUROPE 12478/9).
They show that unscrupulous traders are still taking advantage of the crisis to mislead consumers, in particular through misleading advertisements for face masks, sanitising gels, testing kits, food products, food supplements and non-food products supposed to have curative effects.
The Commission has therefore updated and published its advice to consumers to avoid fraudulent commercial practices online.
Digital platforms have already removed millions of misleading advertisements and product lists in response to the Commission’s call. “However, rogue traders continue to find new ways to exploit consumers’ vulnerabilities, circumvent algorithmic checks and set up new websites”, said EU Justice and Consumer Protection Commissioner Didier Reynders in a statement.
The survey was carried out on 268 websites, 206 of which were flagged for further investigation for possible breaches of EU consumer protection law.
Among these, 88 websites contained products claiming curative or preventive effects against coronavirus; 30 websites contained inaccurate claims about the scarcity of products; and 24 websites were suspected of unfair practices aimed at obtaining excessive prices.
In 39 cases, the sales price and the unit price were not displayed in a clear, easily identifiable and clearly legible manner.
In addition, consumers were not provided with clear and complete information on all relevant aspects, such as the seller’s identity (on 58 sites), the seller’s geographical business address (on 62 sites), or the seller’s contact details (on 58 sites).
Read the advice to consumers: https://bit.ly/3gmUm7B (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)