However, as most customers in urban areas prefer using their phones for payments, Adil Hidayat advises traders not to stop offering cashless payment options. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: As more customers adopt digital payment solutions, some mistakenly interpret “cashless” as avoiding payment altogether.
In a post that has received more than 1.3 million views on X, a user who goes by the handle @mawarne shared that a friend operating at a Ramadan bazaar found that some customers are faking payments.
"The amount coming in doesn't match the sales rate. Only half of it is coming in. It's undeniable that some are honest, but there are many who aren't," she posted.
Others chimed in, claiming that they have experienced similar issues with some customers showing them pictures of old receipts.
Tech content creator Adil Hidayat Rosli said it's not uncommon to hear such stories from Ramadan bazaar traders.
Adil, better known as Pendakwah Teknologi on social media, said that a trader friend recently informed him about a scam involving fake receipts.
He said it's now possible to generate fake proof of payment using online tools on smartphones.
"They can easily enter any amount, and the tool will generate a receipt that looks like a legitimate payment confirmation," he said.
“He only realised something was wrong at the end of the day when he checked his sales and noticed the numbers didn’t add up. He had sold more than what was actually paid for, meaning some payments just never came through.
"The estimated loss is around a few hundred ringgit, and my friend believed it's most likely due to some customers faking their QR payments," he said.
The friend turned to Adil Hidayat for solutions, and he recommended that traders use a QR payment soundbox offered by platforms like Touch 'N Go eWallet, Maybank and RHB, which reads out the payment received.
"This is the best solution, but there are some challenges. For example, it costs around RM150 and requires Internet connectivity via WiFi or mobile data (which requires a SIM card).
"If the connection is weak or unstable, there may be delays or failed notifications. This could be an issue, especially in crowded areas like Ramadan bazaars where network congestion could happen,” he said.
However, as most customers in urban areas prefer using their phones for payments, Adil Hidayat advises traders not to stop offering cashless payment options.
He added that this situation highlights the challenges traders and others on the ground face with digital transformation.
"While digital solutions offer convenience, there are people like traders who have to consider the adoption cost and whether they have the capabilities to keep up.
"And when they become more aware of potential issues, they will improve by understanding ways to overcome them," he said.
Nevertheless, Adil Hidayat is aware that relying solely on tech-driven solutions may not always be practical.
"Ultimately, traders have to be alert, especially during busy periods. They should consider having an extra person to monitor online payments," he said.
