The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) has issued some advice on fraudulent and misleading advertisements for various consumer products.
These include posting inaccurate information labels on the products on display, aimed at tricking or luring the consumers into buying such things, Accordingly, MEC advised consumers to be more cautious when they encounter advertisements or announcements about certain products with exaggerated descriptions, in particular when buying through telephone calls from companies that do not have well-known headquarters.
In addition, extra caution should be taken with low-priced products which may be of low quality or counterfeit. Similarly, some promotional ads claim falsely that their products are of good quality though they do not have any approved service centres of the supplier.
Another risk factor is unlicensed products, such cosmetics, weight loss drugs and other similar products, that could have very bad consequences on the consumers. The MEC also warned consumers regarding the announcements about the products that do not post clear contract conditions and the location of the products or services, besides the origin, ingredients, and production and expiry dates.
In case of a real need to buy through telephone calls, consumers should ensure the advertising company has a physical headquarters with the phone numbers posted. They should insist on getting a valid warranty and having access to approved service centres. A purchase invoice should be obtained to make claims in case of any disputes.
The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar