Once upon a time, merchants stuck notes on people with messages like ‘Delayed hope is dashed, hurry up – no better time can be found.’
Now, e-commerce websites are using similar tactics but more stylishly, offering limited-period offers, huge discounts, and festive deals to attract customers.
These offers often come with an added sense of urgency and scarcity, creating pressure to buy quickly. As a result, people are increasingly turning to online shopping, thinking they are getting items at a much lower price than the market price. This has allowed online fraudsters to take advantage of unsuspecting customers.
Online platforms are flooded with discounts and offers during festivals and other important occasions, mostly from e-commerce companies.
Cybercriminals and online fraudsters seize this opportunity to send spam emails and messages that look like genuine offers. If you fall into their trap, you could lose everything.
For instance, Venkatravu received an email from a leading e-commerce company offering a special discount for only 2 hours with limited stock availability.
Fearing he might miss out, Venkatravu clicked on the link and entered all his credit card details, only to realize he had been deceived.
To avoid falling victim to such scams, here are some precautions to take:
- Be cautious of emails and messages with limited-time offers.
- Do not open email links under any circumstances; visit the official e-commerce website directly.
- Take any messages claiming limited-time offers seriously and exercise caution.
- Be wary of email typographical errors, particularly in company names.
- Use two-factor authentication for payments to add an extra layer of protection.
- Consider using credit cards with low limits for online purchases.
- Double-check offers and discounts before making a purchase decision.
- If you suspect you have been scammed, immediately report it to your bank and the cybercrime department.