Cyber Criminals Launching Fake Websites with Heavy Discounts Ahead of Diwali Shopping SeasonRajasthan
16 Oct 2026, 4:34 pm (1 hour ago)· 0

Cyber Criminals Launching Fake Websites with Heavy Discounts Ahead of Diwali Shopping Season

Cyber criminals are deploying sophisticated duplicate websites mimicking major international brands to trick shoppers during Diwali. Enticing discounts of 70 to 80 percent are used to lure victims into making payments for goods that never arrive.

A new and alarming trend has emerged within the digital marketplace in Pali, where cyber fraudsters have set up entirely duplicate websites mimicking well-known companies and international brands. Beyond merely creating fraudulent social media pages, these criminal syndicates have replicated full web portals with such precision that ordinary consumers find it nearly impossible to distinguish between the legitimate storefronts and the counterfeit setups at first glance.

Luring Shoppers with Massive Festive Discounts

As modern shopping habits shift increasingly toward digital platforms, ordering everything from branded apparel to electronics online has become the preferred choice for countless households. This reliance on e-commerce peaks during major celebrations like the Diwali festival season. Capitalizing on this festive momentum, online scammers have intensified their operations by dangling massive discounts ranging from 70 percent to 80 percent off, enticing eager buyers into making rushed purchases without verifying the authenticity of the seller.

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Cyber security expert Ankit Choudhary highlighted this dangerous new criminal pattern, noting that fraudsters make subtle alterations to recognized brand names while meticulously copying official logos, layouts, and homepage designs. Victims mistake these fraudulent domains for trusted retailers, completing online payments for goods that are never actually dispatched to their delivery addresses.

Essential Precautions for Online Buyers

With online fraudsters operating at full capacity during the festive rush, authorities and specialists urge extreme caution. Consumers planning to purchase gifts or festive supplies through digital channels must verify website URLs and check digital credentials thoroughly before clicking on promotional links or entering payment details, as a moment of carelessness can ruin the festive spirit.

Questions & Answers

How are cyber criminals trapping people during online shopping?
Fraudsters are creating duplicate websites and social media pages mimicking major brands, offering massive discounts of 70 to 80 percent.
Who exposed this new cyber crime trend?
Cyber expert Ankit Choudhary exposed this new security threat.
Why is it difficult to spot these fake websites?
Criminals make minor adjustments to brand names while replicating official logos and designs, making them look authentic at first glance.
What precautions should shoppers take during Diwali?
Shoppers must thoroughly verify website URLs and check merchant authenticity before making any purchases.
What happens after making a payment on a duplicate website?
Customers complete their online payments, but the purchased items are never delivered to their homes.

Comments 4

Ravikash Gupta@ravikash·42m ago

Always double-check the URL before falling for those 80% Diwali discounts. These fake websites look so real and your money just vanishes.

Arjun Mehta@arjun-mehta·42m ago

Ravikash, you have a point, but who checks URLs when there's such a massive festive discount? Sometimes genuine sites offer that much too, so it's not fair to assume every cheap deal is fake.

Rohan Verma@rohan-verma·1h ago

Last year, an acquaintance of mine ordered clothes lured by a similar massive discount, but they never arrived and the money was lost. One really needs to be careful while shopping online during festivals.

Karan Malhotra@karan-malhotra·1h ago

Spot on, Rohan! People often lose their hard-earned money chasing these 70-80% discounts, a little caution is really necessary during festivals.

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