Big sale season is exciting, but it is also when scammers get busy. Here is a real example of a fake "Big Billion Sale" offer going around on WhatsApp and Instagram, and how you can protect yourself.
It started with a message from a friend's number. It said: "Flat 90% off iPhone 15, only 99 rupees booking, offer ends tonight." The link in the message pointed to amaz0n-deals-india dot shop. That is not the real Amazon site.
The first warning sign was the price. An iPhone 15 normally sells for around 60,000 rupees. A 90% discount for a 99 rupee booking is far too good to be true.
The second warning sign was the payment. The page asked for a 99 rupee "booking fee" through a UPI collect request. Later it asked for 1,499 rupees more as "delivery insurance". Scammers often start with a small amount to win your trust, then ask for more.
The third surprise: the friend never sent the message. His WhatsApp account had been hacked, and the scammers were using it to message his contacts. So even a message from someone you know is not proof that a link is safe.
How to check an offer before you trust it:
Look at the website address. Real shopping sites end in amazon.in or flipkart.com. Check the spelling letter by letter, because fake sites swap in numbers, like a zero in place of the letter o in "amazon".
Check for the padlock in your browser. Keep in mind it is only one check, so use it together with the exact spelling of the address.
Never approve a UPI collect request that you did not start yourself. If you did not begin the payment, decline it.
Do not open offers through forwarded links. Go to the shopping app directly and look for the deal there. If the offer is real, you will find it.
If you have already paid, act fast. Report it at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 immediately, and tell your bank too. The sooner you report, the better.
When a deal looks too good to be true, pause for a moment. A quick check can save you a lot of money. Share this post with friends and family in Kerala so they stay safe this sale season.
