As the festive season begins, e-commerce platforms are flooded with mega sales, steep discounts and attractive offers. But a small mistake while hunting for bargains can prove costly.
Cybercriminals are targeting shoppers through counterfeit websites, fake social media advertisements, lookalike URLs and misleading discounts. Fraud is also being reported in hotel bookings, train and flight tickets, and purchases of festive products.
Beware of fake websites and advertisements
Phishing is a common method of cyber fraud. Criminals create counterfeit websites resembling popular e-commerce platforms and use attractive advertisements on Facebook and Instagram to draw users to them. Customers select products and make payments, but their orders never arrive. In many cases, their personal information is also stolen.
An investigation by Cyber Alert identified a website resembling Flipkart, using the URL big-deals-4.netify.app/sale/. Similarly, advertisements misusing Meesho’s logo have offered clothing at unusually low prices, including three suits for ₹149 and three kurta sets for ₹199.
Complainants reported that their payments went to accounts bearing other names or those of general stores rather than Meesho.
Fraudsters are also exploiting festive demand for dry fruits and firecrackers. One offer advertised four kilograms of dry fruits for ₹239. In connection with one advertisement, Meta’s Ad Library reportedly listed around 240 such fraudulent advertisements that were trapping users and draining their accounts.
Risks in Google searches and hotel bookings
Social media is not the only route to fraud. Google searches can also lead users to counterfeit websites or fake customer-care numbers. For hotel, dharamshala or travel-related enquiries, contact details should therefore be obtained from the establishment’s official website.
Fraudsters have created suspicious webpages with names resembling Hotel Sonar Bangla in Puri. Travellers who make advance payments through such websites later discover that no booking has been made.
Use IRCTC’s official website or app to book train tickets. Be cautious of unfamiliar links offering flight tickets or car rentals.
Changes to online shopping rules
The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026* expand the responsibilities of e-commerce platforms. The rules are stated to take effect on January 1, 2027.
They include provisions concerning pre-discount prices, transparency in search results and sponsored listings, seller information, product and importer details, dark patterns, consumer data and grievance redressal.
The rules also require complaints to be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within one month.
In 2025, the National Consumer Helpline received 17,71,622 complaints, of which 5,11,196 – approximately 29% – related to e-commerce.
How to shop safely
Check a website’s URL before clicking on an offer. Shop only through official apps or websites, and avoid making payments directly through links in social media advertisements.
Do not download apps through unfamiliar links or APK files received on WhatsApp. Check seller details, return policies, customer support information and verified reviews. Monitor bank and credit card transactions as well.
With artificial intelligence making counterfeit websites and deepfakes easier to create, vigilance is even more important.
Remember: before pressing “BUY NOW”, make sure you “CHECK NOW” (Cyber Alert airs every Saturday at 10 pm on DD News).
