Festive season sale is now live but beware of online scam

As India buzzes with the festive season, online shopping platforms are hosting back-to-back sales, offering users huge discounts on a range of products. Shoppers are flocking to e-commerce sites to grab great deals. However, while the excitement of getting your favourite products at reduced prices is hard to resist, there is also a rising concern that should not be overlooked-online scams. During the festive season specifically, cybercriminals become more active and employ new tactics to trick people and dupe them out of their money. One such scam, which is currently on the rise, is targeting Flipkart users. In this scam, the fraudsters are exploiting the name of the Flipkart Pay Later option, asking people for OTPs, and more.
Flipkart’s Pay Later payment system allows customers to make purchases on Flipkart with the option of paying later, making it popular among those seeking flexibility in their payments. Unfortunately, scammers are now exploiting its convenience by manipulating unsuspecting customers through a simple but effective trick-asking for a one-time password.
Even a member of India Today Tech received such a scam call. During the call, the scammers claimed to be a Flipkart customer service executive. The caller informs them a suspicious transaction has been noticed on their Flipkart Pay Later account. In a rush to make the situation seem urgent, the caller persuades the India Today member to press certain numbers on their phone to prevent the supposed fraudulent activity.
Further, the scammer escalates the deception by asking the victim to share the OTP sent to their phone. But it was at this time that the India Today Tech member released it as a scam given that no authentic company asks for OTP. As if shared, it would have allowed these scammers access to the Flipkart account, which can then be further exploited. To confirm, we even contacted Flipkart, which confirmed that it is indeed a scam and the company never asks for sensitive information like OTP on call.
What makes this scam particularly dangerous is its timing. With millions of people engaging in online shopping during festive sales, the possibility of overlooking potential red flags is higher. The urgency portrayed by scammers about an order or suspicious payment can lead people to act quickly without taking the time to verify the caller’s authenticity.
While you can certainly enjoy festive sales, it is also highly important to stay vigilant. Here are some tips to protect yourself from falling victim to this and similar scams:
Never share your OTP: Remember, no legitimate customer service representative from Flipkart will ever ask for your OTP. This is confidential information meant to protect your account, and sharing it with anyone, even someone claiming to be from the company, is a red flag.
Hang up on suspicious calls: If you receive a suspicious call, do not engage. Instead, hang up immediately and contact Flipkart’s official customer service through the app or website. This ensures you’re speaking with genuine representatives who can verify any real issues with your account.
Do not fall for urgency: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions. Whether it’s a supposed fraudulent transaction or a time-sensitive offer, always take a moment to assess the situation. Scammers rely on panic to bypass your better judgement.
Report the scam: If you have fallen victim to a scam or received a suspicious call, report it to Flipkart immediately or to the police, so that the authorities can take action and caution others.