Hyderabad, July 13: The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has urged citizens to remain alert against cybercriminals exploiting flash sales, seasonal discounts, clearance sales, and exclusive online offers to cheat unsuspecting shoppers.
TGCSB Director Shikha Goel said fraudsters are increasingly creating fake websites, impersonating well-known e-commerce brands, circulating misleading advertisements on social media, and sending fraudulent shopping links through WhatsApp, SMS, Telegram, and email to lure victims with unrealistically low prices.
According to the TGCSB, cybercriminals commonly use fake advertisements offering massive discounts on branded products, counterfeit websites that closely resemble genuine e-commerce platforms, and social media pages promoting “Limited Time Sale” or “Stock Clearance” offers. They also circulate fraudulent shopping links and request advance payments through UPI, QR codes, or direct bank transfers. In some cases, scammers use fake customer care numbers to collect payment or banking details from victims.
The bureau has identified several warning signs that shoppers should watch out for. These include offers that appear too good to be true, unverified or newly created websites, requests for payment outside official shopping platforms, sellers with no customer reviews or ratings, and urgent messages such as “Only a few items left” or “Offer expires in 10 minutes.” Insistence on advance payment without a secure checkout process is another major red flag.
To stay safe while shopping online, the TGCSB has advised citizens to purchase products only through trusted and official e-commerce platforms. Shoppers should verify website URLs before making purchases, avoid clicking on unsolicited shopping links received through messages, and carefully check seller ratings, customer reviews, and return policies. The bureau also cautioned people against making payments directly to personal bank accounts or unknown UPI IDs and recommended using only secure payment options provided by the platform.
Shikha Goel said that anyone who falls victim to an online shopping scam should immediately contact their bank to report the fraudulent transaction. Victims should preserve screenshots, payment receipts, order details, and conversations as evidence. They should also report the incident through the National Cybercrime Helpline by dialling 1930 and lodge a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal without delay.
“Cybercriminals exploit attractive discounts and limited-time offers to lure victims. If an offer appears too good to be true, verify before you buy. Think before you click. Verify before you pay,” Shikha Goel said.
