Several Internet firms have joined forces to monitor deceptive practices in the online shopping sector, a move deemed necessary to protect consumers, industry watcher said Wednesday.

Internet security company Kingsoft and Tencent, owner of China's most popular free instant messaging system QQ, announced Tuesday they will join Internet search engine Baidu Inc to make the online shopping environment safer.

The three parties will establish a joint mechanism to fight false online shopping data, includ-ing compiling malicious websites information and recommending solutions for online shopping security to users, according to a Baidu statement e-mailed to the Global Times Wednesday.

No more specific details were released.

Qihoo 360, an online security software developer, also announced Wednesday that it has launched an online shopping security function and detailed several fraudulent practices seen on the web.

The company highlighted 10 types of products including recharge cards, digital devices and cosmetics that are favored by scammers online.

"It is necessary to remind Internet users, especially the elderly, about the potential risks and trojan horses they may encounter when they browse shopping websites," Tu Jianlu, spokesperson for Qihoo 360, told the Global Times Wednesday.

In 2010, over 100 million Chinese Internet users were ripped off by false online shopping information, causing direct losses of 15 billion yuan, Internet security company Kingsoft said in a report.