Muscat – The campaign, developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and several relevant authorities, aims to raise community awareness on the principles of safe online shopping, enhance knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of consumers and online providers, clarify the efforts and responsibilities of the CPA in e-commerce, and enhance the legal awareness of providers in accordance with the governing laws and regulations.

It also aims to empower consumers to make informed and safe purchasing decisions and combat commercial fraud and e-commerce fraud.

The initiative targets a wide audience, including consumers across all demographics, online merchants and service providers, influencers in the consumer sector, relevant government bodies, the Omani society for consumer protection, and legal professionals specialising in electronic fraud. It addresses the concepts and terminology of the digital economy and e-commerce, consumer rights and responsibilities, the legal obligations of providers, the steps for safe online shopping, commercial fraud and e-fraud in the digital consumer environment, and the CPA’s role and responsibilities in protecting the electronic consumer.

The campaign will be implemented through various awareness clips and publications, production of podcast episodes; television and radio interviews; live and virtual awareness lectures and workshops; lectures and knowledge meetings for consumers in various government, private, and educational institutions; social media coverage; awareness messages on shopping mall screens; outdoor advertisements; coordination of the Friday sermon; community engagement; and enhanced community participation in the campaign.

As part of the campaign, the CPA will host a key knowledge forum titled ‘E-Shopping Forum: Between Consumer Rights and Supplier Duties’, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and other relevant authorities.