Telangana Cyber Bureau Warns of Fake E-commerce Sites During Discount Season
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) has issued an advisory cautioning online shoppers against fraudulent sale offers, warning that cybercriminals are exploiting discount seasons and flash sales to cheat consumers.
In the advisory released on Monday, the Bureau said fraudsters are creating fake shopping websites, impersonating well-known e-commerce platforms, and circulating deceptive advertisements on social media to lure victims with unrealistically low prices. These criminals also share fraudulent shopping links through WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, and email, directing users to counterfeit websites that closely resemble genuine e-commerce portals.
Police stated that the fraudsters typically advertise steep discounts on branded products and persuade customers to make advance payments through UPI, QR codes, or direct bank transfers. In some cases, fake customer care numbers are used to obtain payment or banking details from unsuspecting buyers.
The bureau advised shoppers to be wary of offers that appear too good to be true, websites with no customer reviews or seller ratings, and sellers insisting on payments outside official shopping platforms. It also cautioned against messages creating artificial urgency, such as claims that only a few items are left in stock or that an offer is about to expire.
The TGCSB urged consumers to shop only through trusted e-commerce platforms, verify website addresses before making purchases, avoid clicking on unsolicited shopping links, and use secure payment options provided by the platform. Buyers were also advised against transferring money to personal bank accounts or unknown UPI IDs.
