European Commission Warns of Ongoing Online Scams Despite Consumer Confidence
Brussels, Belgium, 17th March 2025 – European Commission has published the newest Consumer Conditions Scoreboard. Though consumers’ confidence in e-commerce is commendable, there are still profound dangers online. The report shows that consumers have greater confidence purchasing goods and services through the internet, which is a good indication for the expansion of the digital economy.
Nonetheless, the scorecard also discloses some remaining perils for customers accessing goods and services digitally. These include consumer fraud, deceitful online endorsements, and advertisements that are not what they claim to be, which still pose a barrier to protecting consumers.
The report noted the growing gap between consumers’ needs and the levels of protection provided in online space, suggesting stronger methods in dealing with online consumer issues.
“While troubling, growing consumer trust in paying for goods and services online must be matched with surveillance. There are threats which cumulatively are detrimental to consumer safety,”
Stated Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Justice and Consumers from Europe.
“In as much as we are strong in protecting consumers, this challenge will make us work more.”
The findings of the commission indicate that even with new laws offering consumer protection, frauds and fake reviews indicate that there has been exploitation of the digital market. This calls for re-strategizing and coming up with comprehensive regulations to outsmart the emerging challenges.
To help cope with these issues, the European Commission is already working on ways to strengthen consumer protection online. This covers the upcoming Digital Fairness Act that seeks to address dark practices, like dark patterns and the lack of adequate transparency surrounding spending and ensure that there is more openness during the interactions’ engagements digitally.
The Commission intends to carry out a public hearing regarding this legislation in the spring of 2025, with the proposal being issued in 2026.
‘We want to ensure that there is a transparent and fair digital space for consumers,’
Said Michael McGrath, EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, The Rule of Law and Consumer Protection.
‘Digital fairness will address the challenges in the digital market and ensures that consumer rights are also protected.’
The Internet user’s orientation report suggests that digital platforms as well as other enterprises are becoming too lax in their efforts in the fight against fraud. Businesses have a key role in fighting fraud e.g. through establishing stricter controls for posting reviews or by encouraging users to leave real reviews.
The report emphasizes that there are two sides of the coin for consumers: easier online shopping is on one side, while the risks associated with it mean that there needs to be action taken for it to be safe and fair, which the European Commission continues to address with concerns towards consumers.
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