- Online Shopping Fraud: How to Protect Yourself? 🛒🔍🚨🇮🇳
Online shopping has become a daily part of our lives, but with convenience comes risk. Many consumers face fake websites, delivery scams, wrong or defective products, and payment fraud.
Did you know that online shopping frauds have increased by 50% in the last few years? ✅ If you fall victim to a fake e-commerce site, receive a wrong product, or lose money in an online shopping scam, you have the legal right to file a complaint and demand compensation!
In this blog, we’ll explain how online shopping frauds happen, how to avoid them, and what to do if you get scammed. 🚀
Types of Online Shopping Frauds in India 🚨
1. Fake E-Commerce Websites & Social Media Scams 💻
✔️ Websites offering huge discounts on branded products but disappearing after payment.
✔️ Instagram & Facebook stores selling duplicate products as original.
📌 Example:
A person bought Nike shoes for ₹2,999 from an Instagram page. The seller blocked him after payment, and he never received the product.
💡 What to Do? Always check reviews, website credibility, and contact details before purchasing.
2. Wrong or Fake Product Delivery 📦
✔️ You order a branded phone, but receive a local duplicate.
✔️ An empty box is delivered instead of the actual product.
📌 Example:
A customer ordered an iPhone from an online marketplace, but received a soap bar inside the box. The seller refused a refund.
💡 What to Do? Always choose “Cash on Delivery” (COD) for expensive items.
3. Payment Frauds & Phishing Scams 💳
✔️ Fake websites steal your card details when you enter payment information.
✔️ You receive a fake SMS asking for OTP for your online order.
📌 Example:
A man received a message claiming his Amazon order was stuck. He entered his bank details on a fake site and lost ₹15,000.
💡 What to Do? Never click on suspicious payment links or share OTPs.
4. Fake Return & Refund Policies 🔄
✔️ Websites that don’t allow returns or refunds after delivery.
✔️ Customer care numbers that never respond.
📌 Example:
A woman ordered a dress from a popular shopping app, but received a torn item. The seller refused a return, citing “No Return Policy.”
💡 What to Do? Always check the return policy before ordering.
5. Subscription & Membership Scams 🎭
✔️ Websites offer a free trial but secretly charge your card every month.
✔️ “₹1 subscription offer” that later deducts a high amount.
📌 Example:
A man subscribed to a ₹1 movie streaming trial. After a month, ₹1,999 was deducted from his account without consent.
How to Protect Yourself from Online Shopping Scams? 🛡️
1. Shop Only on Trusted Websites 🏬
✔️ Check if the website has “https://” for secure transactions.
✔️ Avoid unknown or newly launched websites.
📌 Tip:
Verified shopping sites include Amazon, Flipkart, Myntra, Ajio, and TataCliq.
2. Read Reviews & Seller Ratings ⭐
✔️ Check customer reviews before purchasing.
✔️ If a product has no reviews or very high ratings, be suspicious.
📌 Tip:
Google the website name + “scam” or “fraud” to check for complaints.
3. Choose Cash on Delivery (COD) Whenever Possible 💵
✔️ COD reduces the risk of losing money in fraud transactions.
✔️ Use prepaid payments only on trusted platforms.
📌 Tip:
For high-value items, COD is the safest option.
4. Beware of Fake Customer Care Numbers ☎️
✔️ Scammers list fake customer care numbers on Google.
✔️ They ask for OTPs or bank details to “verify” complaints.
📌 Example:
A man searched for XYZ company’s helpline on Google, called a fraud number, and lost ₹30,000.
💡 What to Do? Always check customer care details on the official website.
5. Don’t Share Personal Details Over Calls or Emails 🚫
✔️ Never share OTPs, CVV numbers, or Aadhaar details.
✔️ Banks & e-commerce sites will NEVER ask for OTP over the phone.
📌 Example:
A person received a call claiming to be from Flipkart, asking for OTP to “confirm an order”. ₹10,000 was stolen from his account.
💡 What to Do? Hang up and never share sensitive details.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of Online Shopping Fraud? 🚨
1. Contact the E-Commerce Platform First 📞
✔️ Raise a complaint with customer support.
✔️ Request a refund or replacement.
📌 Tip:
If the company does not respond, escalate the complaint to the next level.
2. Report to the National Consumer Helpline (NCH) 📞
✔️ Toll-Free Number: 1800-11-4000
✔️ File a complaint online: www.consumerhelpline.gov.in
✔️ WhatsApp Complaint: +91-8800001915
📌 Example:
A customer lost ₹5,000 in a fake online order. After filing a complaint with NCH, he got a full refund.
3. Report to Cyber Crime Police 🏛️
✔️ Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930
✔️ File an online complaint: www.cybercrime.gov.in
📌 Example:
A man lost ₹20,000 in a fake online shopping website scam. After filing a cybercrime complaint, the fraudsters were traced.
4. File a Case in Consumer Court ⚖️
✔️ If your issue is not resolved, file a case in Consumer Court.
✔️ Online Complaint Portal: www.edaakhil.nic.in
📌 Example:
A customer ordered a laptop, but received a brick inside the box. He filed a Consumer Court case and won ₹1 lakh compensation.
💡 Consumer Court cases are usually resolved in 3-6 months.
Final Thoughts: Be Smart, Stay Safe! 💪
✔️ Always verify websites before making a payment.
✔️ Check customer reviews & ratings before purchasing.
✔️ Never share OTPs, CVV, or banking details with anyone.
✔️ If scammed, report to Cyber Crime (1930) and Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000).
✔️ For big losses, file a case in Consumer Court for compensation.
📢 Spread awareness! Share this blog to help others stay safe from online shopping fraud in India 🇮🇳!
💬 Have you ever been scammed while shopping online? Share your experience in the comments!