Know your rights

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As e-commerce and social media shopping continue to expand, complaints about products not matching their advertised appearance or features have become more common, raising questions over consumer protection and seller accountability under Bahraini law.

Yousif explained that advertising becomes unlawful when it creates a false impression about a product’s quality, origin, authenticity, or specifications, and influences a buyer’s decision based on inaccurate information.

She advised consumers to verify a seller’s commercial registration, check return policies, request authentic product images where needed, and keep all receipts and communications as evidence in case of disputes.

Under Bahrain’s regulatory framework, including rules governing online sales and consumer protection laws, sellers are required to clearly display licensing details, contact information, and return policies to ensure transparency.

She added that misleading product images or descriptions may amount to commercial fraud, which can carry penalties including fines or imprisonment under relevant GCC unified commercial fraud laws, depending on the severity of the violation.

Consumers are legally entitled to refunds or replacements if a product does not match its advertised description or is defective, while “no return or exchange” clauses cannot override statutory consumer rights.

Electronic records, including chats, invoices, and digital receipts, are also recognised as valid legal evidence in disputes between buyers and sellers.

Yousif stressed that while Bahrain’s legal system provides strong protections, consumer awareness and careful verification remain essential in preventing online fraud.