New Delhi, blissful joy. These days, during lockdown, essential and non-essential items are being sold on the e-commerce website keeping in mind the guidelines issued by the Union Home Ministry. In the Red Zone identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs, only essential goods are being sold on e-commerce sites, while in the Green and Orange zones some non-essential items have also started selling from May 4. These non-essential items include smartphones, laptops and all electronic items, fashion and beauty products.
Many fake Facebook pages have become active these days in the name of e-commerce company Flipkart. These fake pages have been created in the name of Flipkart Deals, Flipkart Offers, Flipkart Sale offers etc. Most of these pages have been recently created. Deals with discounts of up to 90 percent on smartphones are being promoted through these Facebook pages. Clicking on these deals redirects you to a page that looks exactly like a Flipkart. Where you can see many smartphones.
As soon as you click to buy these smartphones, it redirects you to a page. You will enter your account information by choosing the payment option given in it, you will be a victim of online fraud. Because this fake page redirects you to a fake e-commerce website from where your bank details can be stolen.
Measures to avoid online fraud
If you look at these fake websites with deals, then you do not see the correct URL of Flipkart in it, rather it is a link to a fake website or page. Also, if we look at the smartphones found in these deals, it is also found that many of these smartphones are available exclusively on any other e-commerce website such as Amazon. If you too get a link to any such deals or offers in the message or through social media or you are told about lucky deals through a phone call, then you have to take care of some important things.
How to avoid phone calls or SMS – Most people get such calls or SMS that your number has been selected in a free gift or lucky deal. To take advantage of this offer, we have to use your account’s credit card or Debit card information is needed so that we can transfer several amounts won by you to your account. You should not share any personal information such as card number, bank details, Aadhaar number etc. when such phone calls or messages arrive.
Avoid social media and fake websites like this
URL Check – If you spot any kind of deal or offer through social media or Whatsapp, then there will be many spelling mistsake in the link that will be given to you. Be sure to check ‘https’ at the beginning of the URL. If the link to the website starts with https, then it will be a secure website.
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Price Verification – Also check that there is not much difference in the price of any product listed here, the price of other website or the official website of the product. Also, be sure to check the MRP (Maximum Retail Price) of that product at both places. As we have shown above, the URL of the offer page is quite different and huge discounts are being given on every product.
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Use private network- Never use any shared network while shopping online. Always use Incognito or private browsing in a secure network or browser. There is no risk of leaking of payment details used by you. Do not share credit or debit card numbers, passwords, CVV and OTP with anyone. This way you can avoid the risk of being fraudulent online.
We contacted Flipkart for more information about these fake pages. A Flipkart spokesperson explained,  “We have a robust system to take legal action against and identify such fake / lookalike domains, phishing sites and fake websites, apps and social media pages that massively replicate our brand Flipkart But constantly monitor fraud and fraudulent activities with our customers. A large part of our efforts are Fixed is guided to be able to educate our customers.
We publish customer awareness content in major regional languages ​​including English, Hindi in news media, as well as on our proprietary platforms including social media, allowing our customers to understand various types of fraudulent activities and criminals It shows.
We are making this information aware to customers by running a customer awareness campaign for the last one year through social media, our proprietary content platform Flipkart Stories, as well as internet advertising and content marketing. In addition to this we also examine all reported instances that come to our attention. After such cases are exposed, we hand them over to the relevant law enforcement officers. “
