Scam alertIndia
Festival season is starting — watch for fake deals and delivery scams
Posted 24 Aug 2026
As India’s festival shopping season ramps up, scammers flood WhatsApp, SMS, and social media with fake “mega sale” links, unbelievable discounts on phones and gold, and fake “your parcel is held — confirm your address / pay a small fee” delivery messages.
The links lead to fake shopping or payment pages that steal your card and UPI details, or take payment for goods that never arrive.
What to do
- If a deal looks unbelievable, it’s fake. Shop only on the retailer’s official app or site, typed in yourself.
- Never pay a “delivery” or “customs” fee via a link in an SMS or WhatsApp message.
- Watch for lookalike web addresses, and never enter card or UPI details on a page you reached from a message.