IKEA Phils. strengthens campaign against scammers, fake websites

By Angelica Villanueva

IKEA Philippines on Friday said it is taking action to address issues of rampant scamming by fake websites posing as the company’s online sellers.

IKEA said its product requirement and compliance team had already filed a formal report with the cybercrime division of the Philippine National Police regarding the fake websites.

In a forum, IKEA met with Attorney Gel

De Gracia of the Department of Justice –Cybercrime Division who gave insights on what legal actions victims and consumers could do after encountering scams.

In June 6, 2021, the IKEA store in Pasay City received a report from consumer who saw a Facebook ad using the global home furnishing retailer’s name and logo. It did stop for a while after it was being reported until holiday season came and scammers took the opportunity to post more clickbait ads directing to fake websites.

“So that was taken as an opportunity for these people. So not only here in IKEA Philippines, but we also have fraudulent websites that happened in IKEA Singapore and IKEA Malaysia. So all three countries posted on social media to make sure that they only go to the official website. So from what happened in June it stopped and then it happened again in December and then until now,” shared IKEA Philippines

Customer Contact Center Manager Catherine Egagamao.

As of March 1, there are already a total of 64 fake websites that have been reported. Meanwhile, there are currently around 700 scam complaints have been reported to IKEA Philippines. The Swedish furnishing brand launched its physical store in 2021.

Daniel Rivero, store manager of IKEA Philippines, meanwhile, expressed his dismay toward the continuous growing number of scammers who use the IKEA in victimizing Filipino consumers.

NLEX plans new interchange in Pampanga

By Maricel V. Cruz

NLEX Corp., the operator of North Luzon Expressway, has announced plans to build a diamond-type interchange in the MexicoSan Fernando City section of the highway in Pampanga.

Officials of the company made the announcement in an inter-agency consultative meeting presided over by Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. at the House of Representatives recently.

Officials said the plan is to expand the existing Mexico exit/entry toll plaza, which is located on the eastern part of the expressway, into a “full diamond interchange” that would have a separate toll station on the San Fernando City or western side.

They said they would also interconnect the interchange to the Aquino byway extension that would link Mexico and San Fernando.

The byway extension is a convergence road project of Gonzales.

The lawmaker welcomed the NLEX operator’s plan, saying the envisioned complete interchange would decongest vehicular traffic on both the eastern and western parts of the highway, especially the San Fernando City side, including the old MacArthur Highway.

“It will hasten access to the expres way by thousands of motorists and cargo truck drivers coming from San Fernando, Angeles and Bacolor who currently are using the Mexico entry/exit,” he said.

“They would not have to cross the highway through a bridge to access the present toll plaza on the eastern side if a diamond interchange that includes a separate toll station on the San Fernando side were built,” Gonzales said.