The festive season is here. These are a few weeks when people spend a lot on festive season celebrations. So, most online and offline retailers also hold sales offering discounts and offers. Amazon’s Great Indian Sale and Flipkart’s Big Billion Days Sale are the two biggest festive season sales where people purchase a lot. If we look at the data, Amazon and Flipkart together recorded sales of over Rs 54,500 crore from September 26 to October 2. This is the reason cybercriminals also see it as an opportunity to scam people and steal their hard-earned money. From phishing emails to fake websites and OTP frauds, cybercriminals try several ways to scam people. This is the reason you should know how to protect yourself from these cyber frauds and have a safe online shopping experience. In this detailed article, I will tell you how you can avoid falling prey to online fraud and scams this festive season.
1. Beware of Fake Calls and SMS
During festive sales, you may receive several phone calls or SMS messages offering exclusive deals, discounts, cashback, or prizes. While some of these calls or SMS messages may be genuine, a large number are from scammers trying to steal your personal information. If you receive any such call, you should be alert and listen to everything carefully. But avoid sharing sensitive details such as credit card number, CVV, or OTP. Genuine companies never call to ask for such details. Remember one thing: Never Share OTP.
If you receive an SMS or call claiming you have won a prize, don’t get excited. Listen to everything carefully and ask them to send you an email from the official email address about the prize. If they ask for any documents or OTP, never share.
There could be more stories they call tell you and then ask for OTPs by saying it is for verification, or anything else. Always the OTP message carefully and cut the call as soon as someone asks for OTP. OTP is not for sharing on call.
2. Don’t Fall for Phishing Emails
Scammers often send emails that appear to be from popular retailers like Amazon, Flipkart, or even your bank. They can use any call to action to encourage them to click on fake links or download malware. It could be an account suspension email with a link to reset the password, or an exciting offer with a link to a fake website. When you click the link, you visit the page that looks like a genuine website. It is easy to copy the look and feel of any website. I have received several SMS fake messages claiming to be from SBI. Clicking on the Link redirects to an SBI web page. But I know how to detect if the website is fake or genuine.
Before clicking any link, look closely at the sender’s email address. If the email is from Amazon, it should be Amazon. The email address must end with @amazon.in. Phishing emails often use addresses that seem similar but have slight differences, such as extra letters or misspelled domains. Emails from addresses such as @amazonoffers.com or @amazonsale.com aren’t from Amazon.
Amazon India has also released a digital campaign to alert customers against the rising cyber fraud. The campaign promotes online safety as an essential part of the festive celebrations. Here’s the video.
Do not click the link directly from the email. it is better to copy the link and then open it in an incognito tab. Before doing anything, verify the URL. In the next point, I will explain how to verify if the website is genuine or fake.
3. Watch Out for Fake Websites and Apps
Phishing is a common scam where fraudsters create websites or apps that is exactly a copy of legitimate e-commerce platforms. These websites may offer similar products at much lower prices, but they are designed to steal your money or information. These scammers often run social media ads. I have seen some of these scam ads on Flipkart. Clicking on the link took me to a website that looked exactly like Flipkart, but it wasn’t
Always verify the URL of the website you are visiting. Fraudulent sites often use URLs that are slightly different from the official ones (e.g., “amaz0n.com” instead of “amazon.com”). Look for “https” in the URL, which indicates a secure connection.
Download shopping apps only from trusted sources, such as the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Don’t install APKs received via WhatsApp messages.
4. Beware of Fake Customer Service Representatives
Scammers often impersonate customer service representatives to gain access to your personal information or payments. Flipkart’s fake customer service scam is really common on X and I am not sure why Flipkart isn’t taking any action against it. If you report a problem on X and tag Flipkart, you will most likely receive an instant reply from a fake Flipkart support account before the genuine Flipkart support. They will ask you to contact them on a phone number. When you dial the number, you are told that you are calling on Flipkart support. During the call, the fraudster will trick you into giving OTP, installing a fake app, or sharing a screen.
Never rely on phone numbers or links provided in suspicious emails or messages. Go to the official website or app and use the contact information listed there. Never entertain third-party services offering to solve your issues with customer support. These are often scammers trying to collect your personal information or charge you for services you don’t need.
5. Check for Fake Offers on Social Media
Social media is a favorite tool for scammers to promote fake sales or giveaways. They create posts or ads that lead you to fraudulent websites where they try to steal your card information. Before clicking on any social media promotion, check if the offer is from the official social media account and it should redirect to the official website. Scammers often use URL shorteners to disguise fraudulent links. If you come across a shortened link, avoid clicking it. Genuine retailers do not use link shorteners.
6. Stay Aware of Payment Scams
After the rise of digital payment methods like UPI, credit cards, and digital wallets, scammers have become creative. They try multiple ways to trick you into making payments through unofficial channels or by impersonating a seller. Avoid making direct bank transfers or payments through unfamiliar apps. After making purchases, monitor your bank and card statements regularly for any unauthorized transactions.
In case you are sure you are making a payment on a genuine website or app, check the amount carefully before entering the OTP or UPI pin.
7. Double-Check Discount Codes
During sales, many websites offer discount codes for extra savings. However, scammers often lure shoppers with fake codes that lead to malicious websites. The most popular way is to make a website offering curated deals. But clicking on a deal takes you to a fake website that looks like a genuine retailer’s website but is designed to steal credit card details.
Wrap Up
While the festive season always brings joy and excitement, it is important to be aware and alert. By following these simple tips, you can avoid scammers and safely enjoy the festive season sales without falling victim to cybercriminals. Remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Stay alert, shop safely, and enjoy the festivities!
