As India enters its peak festival season, millions of shoppers are turning to online platforms for discounts and exclusive offers. But the excitement of Diwali, Dussehra and Durga Puja sales has also triggered a surge in cyber fraud, with scammers exploiting consumer enthusiasm and digital payment reliance.
According to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), over 1.25 million cybercrime complaints were recorded in 2024, with financial fraud making up more than 75% of the cases. Authorities say such numbers tend to spike during the festive period when consumers are more likely to fall prey to fake offers, phishing messages and counterfeit websites.
Common Festive Scams
Fake shopping websites and apps
Fraudsters often clone popular e-commerce sites with similar domain names and layouts, tricking users into making payments for products that are never delivered. A 2023 CERT-In advisory noted that several domains mimicking Amazon and Flipkart surged around Diwali sales.
Phishing messages and WhatsApp links
Posts promising festival “special offers” or government allowances are widely circulated. These links often lead to fraudulent portals designed to steal banking credentials. Recent fact-checks have exposed viral messages offering “₹2,000 under a PM scheme” that redirected users to scam websites.
Buy-now-pay-later and gift voucher scams
With the popularity of BNPL options, scammers lure users into fake financing schemes or ask them to pay small amounts to unlock “exclusive festive vouchers,” siphoning off larger sums later.
Social media shopping cons
Instagram and Facebook shops offering luxury products at throwaway prices have emerged as a major scam channel. The Indian Cybercrime Helpline (1930) reported thousands of complaints in 2024 linked to fake deliveries or no deliveries after payments.
QR code and UPI fraud
Fraudsters posing as buyers on OLX, Quikr or Facebook Marketplace send QR codes asking users to scan for payments. Instead of receiving money, victims end up transferring funds. NCRB data shows UPI-linked scams doubled in 2023 compared to the previous year, with festive shopping identified as a vulnerable period.
Why Scams Spike During Festivals?
- High-volume transactions: India’s festive season contributes nearly 35% of annual e-commerce sales, according to Redseer Consulting.
- Discount-driven mindset: Shoppers are more likely to trust deep discounts or “flash deals.”
- Emotional triggers: Fraudsters capitalize on the cultural importance of gifting during Diwali and weddings, pushing consumers into hurried purchases.
Authorities’ Response
The Reserve Bank of India has repeatedly issued advisories cautioning against sharing OTPs, scanning unknown QR codes or clicking on suspicious links. The Ministry of Home Affairs’ CyberDost social media handle regularly posts alerts on social media, urging citizens to verify websites and use the national helpline (1930) to report fraud.
Safety Checklist For Shoppers
- Shop only through verified apps and official websites
- Avoid clicking on forwarded festival offers via WhatsApp or SMS
- Double-check domain names and payment gateways
- Use cash on delivery (COD) where possible
- Report suspicious links and fraud attempts immediately.
