Cybercriminals are targeting online shoppers during the festive season through fake shopping websites, misleading discounts and fraudulent advertisements. Consumers looking for attractive deals are being warned to verify sellers and payment links before making purchases.
How Are Fake Shopping Websites Trapping Buyers?
Fraudsters are creating counterfeit shopping websites that closely resemble popular e-commerce platforms. These websites advertise expensive products at unusually low prices, encouraging customers to place orders without checking whether the seller is genuine.
Some fraudulent advertisements appear on social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. Customers who follow these advertisements may be redirected to fake websites where they enter personal information and complete payments.
In several reported cases, buyers paid for products that were never delivered. The websites often appeared convincing because they copied the design, product listings and promotional offers of established shopping platforms.
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What Happened in the Fake Flipkart Website Case?
A fraudulent website resembling Flipkart was identified using the address big-deals-4.netlify.app/sale/. The website promoted unusually low prices, including three suits for ₹149 and three kurtas for ₹199.
The offers were designed to attract customers looking for festive discounts. Complaints indicated that payments were directed to accounts carrying names different from those of genuine stores.
The incident highlights how criminals use familiar brand names and extremely low prices to create an impression of legitimacy. Shoppers may believe they are purchasing from an established retailer when they are actually dealing with an impersonator.
Are Festival Offers Being Used for Other Frauds?
Fraudulent shopping offers are not limited to clothing and household products. Cybercriminals are also exploiting demand for festive items, including dry fruits and firecrackers.
One advertisement offering kilograms of dry fruits for ₹239 was reportedly connected to a fraudulent online operation. Another advertised firecrackers worth ₹2,400 at heavily discounted prices, with customers who made advance payments receiving nothing.
Such schemes commonly rely on attractive prices and advance payment requests. Once the money is transferred, victims may find that the seller cannot be contacted or the promised goods are never delivered.
How Are Hotel and Travel Bookings Being Targeted?
Online fraud is also affecting hotel reservations, train bookings and flight ticket purchases. Criminals create websites resembling legitimate hotels or travel services and use them to collect advance payments from customers.
Fraudulent hotel booking pages have reportedly appeared under names resembling Hotel Sonar Bangla in Puri. Travellers who paid advance amounts through these websites later discovered that no booking had been made.
Social media advertisements and Google search results can also direct users towards counterfeit booking platforms. Customers may encounter fake contact numbers, payment instructions or booking pages that appear connected to genuine businesses.
Travellers are therefore being advised to use official booking websites or applications and remain cautious about unfamiliar links offering unusually attractive deals.
What Changes Are Expected in Online Shopping Rules?
The Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) (Amendment) Rules, 2026, are expected to introduce additional responsibilities for online shopping platforms from January 2027.
The proposed changes cover sponsored listings, seller information, product details, consumer data and grievance redressal. They also address misleading practices that may influence customers’ purchasing decisions.
The rules are described as requiring complaints to be acknowledged within 48 hours and resolved within one month.
The National Consumer Helpline received 17,71,622 complaints in 2025, of which 5,11,196, approximately 29%, were related to e-commerce.
The420 Insight: How Can Shoppers Avoid Festive Fraud?
Consumers should verify website addresses before making payments and avoid clicking unfamiliar shopping links circulated through social media advertisements. Offers promising expensive products at exceptionally low prices should be treated cautiously.
Shoppers should use official applications or verified websites, review seller details and return policies, and check customer support information before placing orders.
Bank and credit card transactions should also be monitored for suspicious activity. As counterfeit websites and misleading advertisements become more convincing, checking the authenticity of an offer before paying remains one of the most important safeguards against online shopping fraud.
About the author — Ayesha Aayat writes on cybercrime, digital safety, and emerging online threats. Her work focuses on public awareness, legal clarity, and technology-driven risks.
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