Dhanteras and Diwali Shopping: Online shopping guidelines issued to prevent scams.

As Diwali approaches, Indians are busy shopping for luxury goods and other goods both online and offline. E-commerce sites are seeing a surge in traffic as shoppers search for deals.

Unfortunately, during the holidays, cybercriminals tend to become more active and use new tactics to scam people out of their money. There are now a growing number of scams targeting Flipkart users using the name of the Flipkart Pay Later option, forcing people to give out their OTPs and more.

To prevent online shopping scams, India’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has issued an advisory detailing how scammers are targeting users and offering tips to stay protected.

Here are the types of fraud:

1. Phishing scam. Deceptive individuals send fraudulent emails or messages pretending to be reputable companies in order to steal users’ sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal data.
2. Fraud with lotteries and prizes. Victims are forced to pay fees to receive a prize or lottery they never actually entered.
Emotional manipulation scam. Scammers create fake online dating profiles to manipulate people into sending them money by fabricating personal crises.
3. Job vacancy scams. Fraudulent job postings require job seekers to pay for applications, training, or background checks.
4. Tech support scam: Attackers falsely claim to be solving non-existent problems on victims’ devices, gaining illegal remote access to steal data or charge for unnecessary services.
5. Investment fraud. Deceptive schemes promise exaggerated profits, often preying on people seeking quick financial gain.
6. Cash on delivery (CoD) fraud. Fake online stores ship counterfeit or incorrect products through CoD, resulting in financial loss and erosion of trust.
7. Fake charity appeal scams. Fraudsters disguise themselves as charities during emergencies to exploit sympathy and solicit fraudulent donations.
8. Fraud involving erroneous money transfers. Fraudsters fabricate random transfers and force victims to return money using falsified evidence.
9. Digital Arrest Scam: Threatens victims with arrest if they do not transfer money to clear trumped-up charges.
10. Telephone Fraud: Extorting personal information through fraudulent phone calls.
11. Parcel Fraud: Claiming fines to avoid legal problems associated with allegedly confiscated packages containing illegal items.
12. Credit/Card Fraud: Forcing victims to pay down payments for non-existent low-interest loans from fraudulent lenders.

How to protect yourself

Check the authenticity of callers. Ensuring the legitimacy of callers is critical. Avoid video calls and money transfers as government agencies do not use platforms like WhatsApp or Skype for official purposes.
Do not share OTP: Do not share your OTP under any circumstances. Keep in mind that no authorized Flipkart customer service agent will ever ask for your OTP. This information is confidential and is intended to protect your account. Sharing this with anyone, even if they claim to be associated with the company, may raise suspicion.
Keep Calm: Social engineering is a tactic used to instill fear in people. Take a moment to collect your thoughts before making any decisions in these situations.
Protect your personal information: Refrain from disclosing any personal information to callers. Official organizations do not ask for sensitive information such as bank details or one-time passwords.
Avoid installing remote access software. Providing remote access to your devices can lead to serious security risks. It is advisable to refrain from installing such software at all costs.
Be careful with money transfers: refrain from sending money without verifying the legitimacy of the transaction. If someone requests payment over the phone or online, be careful as it could be a potential scam.
Encourage reporting of suspicious activity. If you suspect that you have been the victim of fraud, please report it immediately to your bank and Cyber ​​Crime department for investigation.

Be careful with links and attachments. Be careful when clicking on links and attachments, especially from unfamiliar senders, to reduce your risk of falling victim to cyber threats.

Avoid installing apps from untrusted sources: Only download apps from trusted app stores to avoid malware. Also, do not allow others to access your device for increased security.