The holiday season is upon us, and along with it comes the thrill of huge online shopping discounts. However, there is a serious risk that comes with it.
Flipkart’s Big Billion Days 2025 begins September 23, with plus and black members having access beforehand. Amazon’s Great Indian Festival also begins September 23, and there will be huge discounts on electronics, gadgets, and home appliances.
While people patiently wait to grab the deals, criminals are busy prepping to trick honest individuals likely every day. They share fake offers through WhatsApp and social media, usually with a screen shot or link that says, “iPhones for ₹20,000” or “Smart TV 80% off.” If the offer seems too good to be true, it isn’t.
When people click on these links, they redirect them to a fake site that resembles a site like Amazon or Flipkart. The fraudulent sites copy the logos, layout and layout to match product lists. It becomes impossible to tell looks normal until they make a payment. After the payment is made, they realize it was a fraud and they lost their money.
When accessing an offer, always go to the official website of Amazon or Flipkart. Do not click on any links or screenshots sent to you in a message by a stranger or social media group.
You should carefully check the URL before making the purchase.
A legitimate website will begin with https:// not just http://.
Make sure the spelling is correct in the URL or content.
Check to see if the website has appropriate contact and policy information. Fake websites often do not have this or have poor grammar or layout.
Many fake screenshots get posted on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp during sales. They are sent out to trap someone who is not paying attention, or even a less-utilized technology user. Beware. If it seems wrong, it probably is.
If you were to click a suspicious link, do not give any personal or banking information! Immediately, exit the website, and run a virus scan on your computer. You should also report the number or link to the cybercrime police.
Also Read: Why ‘No-Cost’ EMIs On Flipkart And Amazon Might Be Costing You More