India’s festive season has brought attractive discounts, special offers and exciting deals across major e-commerce platforms. However, the government has warned shoppers to be cautious, as cybercriminals are using fake advertisements and fraudulent shopping websites to cheat customers.
Scammers are reportedly misusing popular brand names, familiar logos and product images to make fake offers appear genuine. Although these websites may look similar to official shopping platforms, they could be designed to steal money and misuse customers’ personal information.
The government has issued an advisory urging people to verify festive sale offers before clicking on links or making payments.
What Did the Government Say?
CyberDost, the cybercrime awareness initiative of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), has cautioned people against fraudulent shopping advertisements that use well-known brand names to attract customers.
According to the advisory, scammers create advertisements featuring familiar logos, product pictures and festive sale designs to lure shoppers looking for heavy discounts.
Clicking on these advertisements may redirect users to fake websites that closely resemble the official platforms of popular brands. Customers who enter their personal or banking details or make payments on these websites risk losing their money.
How to Stay Safe From Fake Festive Sale Offers
Here are some important precautions shoppers should follow to avoid online shopping fraud during the festive season.
- Check the website URL carefully
Before making a purchase, verify the website address and ensure that you are visiting the brand’s official platform. Do not trust a website simply because it looks genuine.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links
Do not click on shopping links received through unknown messages, emails or social media advertisements. Fraudsters often use attractive discounts to encourage people to visit fake websites.
- Shop through official websites or apps
If you come across an attractive deal, visit the e-commerce platform’s official website or app directly instead of clicking on an advertisement. Be cautious when selecting sponsored links in search engine results.
- Be careful with advance payments
Avoid making advance payments on unfamiliar websites where the seller’s identity and the offer cannot be verified. Check the seller’s details, return policy and payment terms before placing an order.
- Do not share sensitive information
Never share your OTP, UPI PIN, banking password or card details with anyone claiming to help you complete a purchase or claim a discount.
- Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true
Extremely low prices, unrealistic discounts and limited-time offers designed to create urgency can be warning signs of fraud. Verify the deal through the brand’s official channels before making a payment.
What Should You Do If You Fall Victim to Online Shopping Fraud?
If you lose money in an online shopping scam, immediately contact your bank or payment service provider to report the transaction. You can also report cyber financial fraud by calling India’s national cybercrime helpline 1930 or visiting the official website, cybercrime.gov.in.
As festive shopping gathers momentum, customers should verify every deal carefully and avoid rushing into payments. A genuine-looking website or an attractive discount does not guarantee that an offer is safe.