Online shopping has made it possible to buy almost anything within minutes, but the convenience has also created opportunities for cybercriminals. Fake shopping websites, phishing links, fraudulent discount offers and malicious apps are increasingly used to trick shoppers into revealing sensitive financial information.

During major sales and festive shopping periods, an unusually attractive discount can make people act quickly without checking whether the offer is genuine. Fraudsters take advantage of this urgency by creating websites and messages that resemble those of well-known brands.

A suspicious click alone does not necessarily empty a bank account, but interacting with a fraudulent page, installing malicious software or sharing banking credentials can put your money and personal information at serious risk.

Before making your next online purchase, these three basic security checks can help you shop more safely.

1. Check the Website Address Before Entering Any Details

One of the most common online shopping scams involves fake websites designed to resemble legitimate e-commerce platforms.

Cybercriminals may copy the colours, product images and layout of a popular shopping website while using a slightly different domain name. A user who does not carefully inspect the address may assume that the website is genuine.

This technique is commonly associated with phishing.

Before entering your phone number, password, card information or other personal details, carefully examine the website's domain name. Look for spelling changes, unnecessary words, unusual characters or domains that do not match the retailer's official address.

You should also check whether the connection uses HTTPS. However, HTTPS and the padlock symbol should not be treated as proof that a website is legitimate. Scam websites can also obtain HTTPS certificates. The actual domain name and reputation of the seller remain important.

Instead of opening shopping links received through random messages, it is generally safer to type the retailer's known website address yourself or use its official app.

2. Be Careful When Saving Card Information

Saving a debit or credit card on a shopping platform can make future purchases faster, but shoppers should understand how their payment information is being handled.

Where available, card tokenisation can provide additional protection. Tokenisation replaces the actual card number with a unique token for eligible transactions, reducing the need to expose the real card details during payment processing.

Consumers can also consider other payment options offered by legitimate merchants, including UPI or Cash on Delivery where appropriate.

However, using UPI does not automatically make every transaction safe. Fraudsters can send fake payment requests or trick users into entering a UPI PIN.

Remember an important rule: you do not need to enter your UPI PIN simply to receive money. Be suspicious if someone claiming to send you a refund, cashback or payment asks you to approve an unfamiliar collect request.

Similarly, never disclose your OTP, UPI PIN, ATM PIN, CVV or online banking password to another person. Banks and legitimate payment providers do not need these confidential credentials from you over a phone call or chat to process a routine transaction.

3. Ignore Suspicious Discount and Free-Gift Links

Messages promising massive discounts, free gifts or limited-time prizes should be treated cautiously, particularly when they arrive unexpectedly through WhatsApp, SMS, email, Instagram or other social platforms.

Common examples include messages such as "90% discount available today," "You have won a free gift," or "Claim your shopping voucher immediately."

These messages often try to create urgency so that the recipient clicks before thinking.

A malicious link may lead to a phishing page designed to collect passwords and financial information. In some cases, users may also be encouraged to download potentially harmful apps or files.

Do not install shopping or banking apps from unknown links or unofficial APK files. Android users should generally obtain apps through trusted sources such as Google Play and verify the developer before installation. iPhone users should similarly rely on authorised distribution channels and verify the app publisher.

Turn On Two-Factor Authentication Where Available

Strong passwords are important, but an additional authentication layer can provide greater account protection.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) or other supported security features on shopping, email and financial accounts whenever available.

With additional authentication enabled, a stolen password alone may not be sufficient for an attacker to access an account. Depending on the service, the second verification step could involve an authenticator, passkey, security prompt, biometric verification or one-time code.

Users should still never share authentication codes with anyone else.

What to Do If an Online Shopping Offer Looks Suspicious

When an offer appears unusually generous, avoid rushing to complete the purchase.

Open the retailer's official website or app separately and check whether the same sale or discount is actually listed there. Also review the seller's identity, return policy and payment page before completing the transaction.

If you accidentally enter banking information on a suspicious website or notice an unauthorised transaction, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. In India, suspected cyber financial fraud can also be reported through the official cybercrime reporting system and the 1930 cybercrime helpline.

A Few Seconds of Checking Can Prevent a Costly Mistake

Safe online shopping does not require complicated technical knowledge. Three habits can significantly reduce your exposure to common scams: verify the website carefully, protect your payment credentials and avoid suspicious links or downloads.

Most importantly, do not allow a countdown timer, huge discount or "last chance" message to pressure you into making an immediate payment. Taking a few seconds to verify the seller and payment page can help prevent a tempting online deal from turning into an expensive cyber fraud.