How It Works
Fraudsters set up professional-looking online stores — sometimes AI-cloned copies of real brands — advertising huge discounts on social media. Customers pay for products that are either never delivered, or arrive as cheap counterfeits, with no working customer service afterward.
Real Example
Fraudsters cloned a major e-commerce brand's website using AI, running fake discount campaigns that lured over 30,000 shoppers into buying non-existent products, leading to an estimated ₹120 crore in losses.
Red Flags 🚩
- Discounts far steeper than any legitimate sale (70-90% off)
- Website only reachable through a social media ad, not searchable directly
- No verifiable return address, GST number, or customer service phone line
- Payment only accepted via UPI/bank transfer, no card or COD option
Protection Steps 🛡️
- Type the retailer's name directly into your browser instead of clicking ads.
- Check for a verifiable physical address, GST number, and reviews outside the site itself.
- Prefer Cash on Delivery or card payment with buyer protection over UPI/bank transfer.
- Search the website name + "scam" or "reviews" before purchasing.