By MERCY OMOIKE

A UK-based tech business expert, Mrs Christiana Celestine, on Monday proffered measures by which credible online businesses could be identified and fraud curtailed.

Celestine, the Founder, GoMarket (Nigeria’s First Innovative E-commerce Trust Platform) and EventASAP, a digital marketplace for event services, made this measures known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The expert noted that to reduce online business fraud, certain measures must be put in place to identify unscrupulous business elements online.

She said: “To reduce online fraud the first step is to look out for transparency and accountability mechanisms.

“A credible platform should have clear vendor verification processes, visible customer reviews and secure payment systems.

“Consumers should also check if the platform provides escrow or buyer protection services that ensure funds are not released until a product is delivered or a service is confirmed.”

The tech business expert stressed that, having researched and built digital platforms, her advice to consumers was for them to know that ‘credibility is visible’.

She noted that, if a platform hid too much, lacked proper contact information or did not allow customers to see reviews and ratings, then these are red flags.

“Credibility comes from building trust into the system, not just the product. Nigerian businesses must adopt practices that international consumers recognise as credible,” the expert said.

Celestine also noted that to build credibility, businesses must ensure vendor verification before onboarding sellers among others measures.

“The Escrow-style payments should be adopted, where money is held by the platform until delivery is confirmed.

“There should also be multimedia proof such as product videos and detailed descriptions, to give buyers more confidence.

“Customer service transparency should also be prioritised – it is important to be reachable, responsive, and accountable when problems occur.

“When Nigerian businesses adopt these measures, they not only build credibility but also increase the country’s reputation in global trade,” she said.

According to Celestine, though government can put measures in place to regulate online businesses, but the regulations must enable innovation while protecting consumers.

“Government frameworks should focus on setting minimum standards for transparency, vendor verification and dispute resolution.

“However, credibility should not depend on regulation alone. Private platforms must innovate faster than government can legislate.

“That is why tech entrepreneurs like myself build solutions that protect both buyers and sellers without waiting for heavy regulation.

“For example, by embedding digital trust features into platforms, we reduce fraud while creating more confidence for global users.

“So yes, regulation is necessary, but innovation must lead.

NAN reports that Christiana Celestine is a global leader in digital innovation – building community-focused digital platforms like GoMarket, EventASAP and EduSponsor.

She also drives inclusion and community transformation in the UK through the Diversity Network Hartlepool. (NAN)