Fraudsters Create Fake Clothing Store Profiles in Sangrur to Scam Online Shoppers Scammers in Punjab cloned a well-known apparel store's social media identity, baiting shoppers with low-priced suits and disappearing after taking advance payments. A deceptive online retail scam targeting shoppers ahead of the upcoming wedding season has emerged in Sangrur, Punjab. Cyber fraudsters created multiple duplicate social media accounts mimicking a well-known local apparel retailer, exploiting the shop's established market reputation to siphon money from unsuspecting buyers without delivering the promised goods. Stolen Reels and Discount Baits Used to Mislead Buyers The fraudulent scheme operates through a calculated digital setup. Scammers begin by downloading genuine product reels and video clips of designer suits posted by the authentic store on its official social media handles. They subsequently establish fake profiles using identical business branding and re-upload the stolen footage. To lure potential customers quickly, the operators list these garments at prices significantly lower than actual market rates and the store's original pricing. Shoppers seeking affordable festive clothing online frequently fall into this pricing trap. Advance Transfers Followed by Complete Disconnection Whenever customers initiate inquiries on these fraudulent accounts to place orders, the scammers instruct them to make upfront payments into specified bank accounts. Eager to secure the discounted items, buyers transfer the requested amounts electronically. Immediately after the funds are credited, the fraudsters cease all communication, reject incoming telephone calls, and provide neither order tracking nor refunds. Victims Arrive at Physical Store Seeking Undelivered Orders The owner of the genuine business, Aarav Garg, noted that numerous defrauded women have been arriving directly at his physical store over the past 15 to 20 days. These customers report that they completed purchases and dispatched money through what appeared to be the store's online handle, only to receive no merchandise. The management has had to explain to these shoppers that the transactions occurred on fraudulent pages created by third-party scammers using the store's trade name. Cyber Crime Investigation and Safe Buying Practices Aarav Garg lodged a formal complaint with the cyber crime police station in Sangrur regarding the duplicate handles and customer harassment. Investigating officers assured the business owner that appropriate technical measures would be deployed to deactivate the counterfeit accounts and apprehend the perpetrators. Shoppers browsing clothing collections on social platforms are advised to verify seller authenticity thoroughly before remitting money. Verifying physical premises through live video communication and avoiding unrealistically cheap pricing can prevent substantial financial losses. What this means for you This incident serves as a critical warning for consumers purchasing apparel through social media promotions. • Across India: Cybercriminals are increasingly using clone profiles of reputed local retailers to execute advance payment frauds. Buyers should refrain from transferring money directly to unknown bank accounts solely based on steep discount claims. • In Sangrur: Local residents must avoid purchasing suits from unofficial duplicate pages mimicking Aarav Garg's clothing outlet. Anyone who has transferred money to these impersonators should promptly approach the local cyber crime police station. • Verification Safeguards: Shoppers must insist on verifying the physical presence of the merchant through video calls before committing to transactions. Verifying contact details and shop registration helps confirm legitimacy prior to transfer. • Refund Difficulties: Recovering money transferred directly into fraudulent third-party accounts is extremely complicated once communication is blocked. Refusing unsolicited discount links protects consumers from unrecoverable monetary losses. Why this happened This fraudulent operation took advantage of upcoming wedding season shopping demand and the exploitation of reputed business identities on social platforms. • Identity Cloning: Fraudsters duplicated the identity and trade name of an established Sangrur garment store. This allowed them to exploit the retailer's preexisting customer goodwill without raising immediate suspicion. • Content Hijacking: The operators downloaded authentic product videos and reels directly from the genuine shop's page and reposted them on duplicate accounts. This created a convincing facade that misled prospective buyers. • Deceptive Pricing Incentives: Prices were advertised at rates far below regular market retail prices. The prospect of securing heavy festive discounts prompted consumers to commit to immediate advance wire transfers. • Unregulated Digital Accounts: The scammers directed all incoming payments to illicit bank accounts and severed phone contact the moment transfers were confirmed. Questions & Answers 1. Where did this social media shopping scam take place? The incident occurred in Sangrur, Punjab, where scammers cloned the online identity of a prominent clothing retailer. 2. How did the fraudsters deceive online shoppers? The scammers reposted stolen product videos offering suits at unusually low prices and disappeared after collecting advance payments. 3. For how long have victims been approaching shop owner Aarav Garg? Store owner Aarav Garg stated that defrauded buyers had been arriving at his shop with complaints over the preceding 15 to 20 days. 4. What action has been taken with law enforcement regarding this fraud? A complaint was lodged at the Sangrur cyber crime police station, which assured that the counterfeit profiles would be blocked and the offenders traced. 5. What precautionary measures should consumers take when buying clothes online? Consumers should verify social media profiles thoroughly and confirm merchant credentials via video call before transferring advance payments. https://trendkia.com/en/punjab/punjab-men-prasiddha-kapara-karobari-ke-nama-para-pharji-soshala-midiya-peja-banakara-mahilaon-se-thagi-45165 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.