Online Holi Sale Scam Alert: Be Cautious of 95% Discount Offers

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Beware of Fake “Holi Sale” Scams: Cyber Experts Warn of 95% Discount Lures

As the Holi festival approaches, a new wave of cyber scams has emerged on social media, targeting unsuspecting online shoppers. Cybersecurity experts have sounded the alarm on fake promotional content circulating under the guise of Flipkart’s “Holi Sale” and “limited time offer” deals, offering discounts of 90 to 95 percent.

How the Scam Works

According to Dr. Digvijay Singh Rathore, nodal officer of the Cyber Club at Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University, this is a carefully planned cyber fraud strategy designed to exploit people’s haste and greed for unrealistically low prices. Fraud groups create new websites with domain names similar to those of legitimate companies, making it difficult for ordinary users to distinguish between genuine and fake sites. These websites are typically created just days before the campaign and are heavily promoted on social media.

“The scammers use psychological pressure tactics to push buyers into making quick decisions, employing phrases such as “buy now,” “limited stock,” or “pay immediately.” Experts warn that if a product is suddenly available at an extremely low price, it should raise suspicion. For instance, offers like a chair priced at ₹8,999 being sold for ₹467 or expensive mobile phones being offered at unusually low prices should be treated with caution.”

Prevention and Action

Cyber fraudsters take advantage of people’s tendency to trust such offers, especially during festive seasons. The Cyber Club has appealed to citizens to report suspicious advertisements on social media platforms using the “report” or “complain” options. This can help remove fake advertisements quickly and prevent further scams.

If someone has already fallen victim to an online scam, they should immediately file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and call the helpline number 1930 for instant assistance.
It is essential to preserve transaction details, screenshots, and suspicious links as evidence while filing complaints.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, consumers are advised to shop only through the official mobile application or verified website of the concerned company.
The website address should be carefully checked to ensure correct spelling and security indicators.
Users should be cautious of excessively discounted offers, pressure for quick payment, or clicking unknown links.

Cyber experts emphasize that a little caution and awareness while shopping online can go a long way in preventing such scams.