"19 yuan recharge 100 yuan call fee." Not long ago, Mr. Wang, a citizen of Tianjin, found this QR code advertisement on the express box he received. He thought it was very cost-effective. He scanned the code and paid 19 yuan according to the advertising guidelines. As a result, he didn't recharge the phone bill at all, but showed that he had opened an app member Mr. Wang told his friends about his experience and found that many people had encountered QR code traps on express Boxes - some didn't get corresponding discounts after recharging, and some didn't get prizes after downloading a pile of apps.
Recently, the reporter of rule of law daily came to several express stations in Hedong District of Tianjin and randomly selected 30 express packages. About 40% of the express packages were printed with QR code advertisements, including: "the secret of heaven! You can get 100 yuan by sweeping", "don't dismantle it first! You can get a large cash red envelope by sweeping the code", "don't throw it away! You can get a mobile phone for 1 yuan by sweeping the code", etc.
Can you really get benefits by scanning these QR codes
After the reporter scanned the QR code of "scan immediately and reward a barrel of oil randomly" on the express, a page popped up on the mobile phone screen, which said to draw various welfare awards such as cigarettes, wine and tablet computers. After winning, you only need to pay the express fee to send them home.
"Don't sweep, it's a lie!" When the staff of the express site on one side saw the reporter scanning the QR code, they reminded him that some residents didn't receive any prizes after scanning the code, paying the express fee and filling in the address. "These two-dimensional code advertisements are available when they are sent, and I don't know who posted them."
Nearby residents told reporters that they had seen a QR code advertisement labeled "get a beautiful mobile phone number" on the express. They scanned the code and entered the number selection interface. They filled in the identity information and paid the corresponding fees according to the order process. As a result, they had not received the relevant Express. When trying to communicate, they found that the contact information left by the other party was false.
There is also a QR code advertisement of "playing game cash withdrawal". The reporter scans the code and enters the game interface. After playing 10 levels, he will be prompted to get 5 yuan, but if he wants to withdraw cash, he will have to pass 30 levels. After reaching 30 levels, he will be prompted that he needs to accumulate 10 yuan to withdraw cash... And in this process, users have to watch various advertisements constantly.
On the third-party complaint platform, many netizens said that some QR code advertisements on express delivery had "rogue software". After scanning the code, they found that the content was inconsistent with the advertising. Click the "exit" button, and as a result, they still automatically downloaded a pile of useless apps.
According to public data, China's express business volume reached 108.5 billion in 2021, supporting online retail sales of nearly 11 trillion yuan. Recently, Anhui Consumer Protection Commission tested, counted and analyzed 1111 samples of express orders and found that 674 samples contained QR code advertisements, accounting for 60.67%. Among them, the most advertisements are the activity of "receiving cash every day and receiving money every second", accounting for 39.32%.
So, who posted these QR code advertisements on express?
An industry official in charge of delivering express list advertisements told reporters that they have cooperation with e-commerce platforms and express companies. Businesses can print out the express list with additional advertisements directly through the system, which can be delivered according to different nodes and activity areas, and can guarantee to send up to 50000 copies a day. It also provides offline Express single advertising service, that is, it is pasted on the express package through self-adhesive, and even a single page can be placed inside the express. As for which advertisements are put in, "as long as they are not illegal, there is no audit".
Many consumers complained that they negotiated with the express company after being cheated. The other party said that the advertisement was not released by themselves, so they didn't need to be responsible for it and couldn't solve the problem for it. In this regard, Zhai Dongwei, a lawyer of Guangdong Yingzun law firm, believes that the express company has the responsibility and obligation to review the advertising content on the express list to ensure that it does not infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.
"The reason why there are advertisements on express packages is probably because there is a contractual relationship between express companies and advertising operators. According to the law on the protection of consumers' rights and interests, if consumers' legitimate rights and interests are damaged because operators use false advertisements or other false publicity methods to provide goods or services, they can claim compensation from operators. If advertising operators or publishers publish false advertisements, consumers can request the competent administrative department for compensation In order to punish, advertising agents and publishers who fail to provide the real name, address and effective contact information of the operators shall bear the liability for compensation. Advertisers shall compensate the damaged consumers, and express companies shall bear joint and several liability for compensation. " Zhai Weidong said.
How can we avoid the trap of Express single advertisement
Zhai Weidong said that the measures for the administration of printed matter advertising stipulates that publishing printed matter advertising requires the business scope of agency and publishing printed matter advertising. If there is no such provision in the business scope of express companies, the administrative department for Industry and commerce can punish them. If the express company still publishes the advertisement knowing that the advertising content is illegal, the administrative department for Industry and Commerce may confiscate its advertising expenses and impose a fine on it. If the circumstances are serious and constitute a criminal crime, it may be investigated for criminal responsibility.
"For consumers, if losses are caused by the false publicity of the advertisement, they can file a civil lawsuit against the advertiser to claim compensation for the losses. Of course, they can also ask the advertisement publisher express company to bear joint and several liability for compensation." Zhai Weidong said.
Anhui Consumer Protection Commission and other relevant departments and express companies also reminded that the benefits such as "free pumping", "to be received" and "one yuan pumping" in the express single advertisement can not ensure the authenticity and safety. Consumers should be careful not to scan the code easily after seeing such advertisements.