Srinagar, Oct 19: With festive-season sales bringing attractive discounts and promotional offers across e-commerce platforms, shoppers are being cautioned against cyber fraudsters who exploit bargain hunting through fake websites, deceptive advertisements and misleading deals.
Cybercriminals are targeting online shoppers through counterfeit shopping websites, lookalike URLs, fake social media advertisements and offers promising unusually steep discounts. A single careless click or payment on an unverified platform can expose consumers to financial fraud and the theft of personal information.
The risks extend beyond purchases of clothing, electronics and other festive products. Fraudsters are also exploiting hotel reservations, train and flight bookings, and other seasonal travel requirements by advertising deceptive deals designed to lure customers into making payments through fraudulent links.
Common methods include creating websites that imitate established shopping platforms, circulating phishing links, advertising discounts that do not exist and directing customers to unauthorised payment pages. Some scams may also involve fake applications designed to obtain sensitive information or gain access to users’ devices.
Consumers may lose money after paying for products that are never delivered. In other cases, fraudsters may attempt to obtain banking credentials, card details, one-time passwords or other personal information under the pretext of completing a transaction or confirming an offer.
Shoppers are advised to check website addresses carefully before making payments, access shopping platforms through their official applications or verified websites, and avoid links received through unsolicited messages or suspicious social media advertisements. Offers that appear unusually generous should be independently verified before a purchase is made.
Consumers should also avoid sharing one-time passwords, PINs, banking credentials or card security details with anyone claiming to represent a shopping platform, bank or delivery service. Payment pages should be checked carefully, while unfamiliar applications and websites requesting unnecessary permissions or personal information should be avoided.
The festive shopping rush can create a sense of urgency, with countdowns and claims of limited-time discounts encouraging customers to act without verification. Cybersecurity awareness and careful checking of offers remain important safeguards against such tactics.
Shoppers who suspect that they have been defrauded should contact their bank or payment service provider immediately and report the incident through India’s cybercrime reporting helpline 1930 or the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. [KNT]
