Hyderabad cybercrime police warn of festive season online frauds

With Diwali shopping in full swing, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police warn citizens about rising online scams involving fake shopping links, malicious apps, and phishing messages. Officials urge people to stay alert, avoid unverified links, and report any suspicious activity immediately

Hyderabad: With Diwali and the festive shopping season underway, the Hyderabad Cybercrime police have urged citizens to be cautious of rising cyber frauds involving fake e-commerce offers, malicious mobile apps, phishing links, promising unbelievable discounts on gadgets and gifts.

Officials warned that cybercriminals are exploiting the festive mood and people’s enthusiasm for online shopping to steal sensitive information such as bank account credentials, card details, OTPs, and personal data, resulting in heavy financial losses.

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Fraudsters using multiple tactics:

According to the Cybercrime Unit, scammers are employing several deceptive methods to cheat unsuspecting victims. One of the most common is the circulation of fake e-commerce portals and unauthorised mobile apps i.e, APK files that mimic popular shopping platforms.

These fraudulent links, often sent via WhatsApp, SMS, Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram, promise deep discounts on electronic gadgets and festive hampers. Once users download such APK files, malware is secretly installed on their phones, allowing fraudsters to access their personal and banking data.

Another common method involves phishing links embedded in fake payment or offer pages, designed to capture debit/credit card numbers, net banking credentials and OTPs.

Scammers also send messages about lucky draws or Diwali gift rewards, claiming the receiver has ‘won an exclusive prize’ and must pay a small ‘processing fee’ to claim it. In many cases, once victims transfer the money, they realise they were cheated.

Additionally, fake social media ads and pages are being used to lure buyers with heavy discounts on branded products. After receiving advance payments, these pages are deleted and the products are never delivered.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar appealed to the public to exercise extra caution during the festival season. “Cybercriminals take advantage of festive excitement and people’s rush for online shopping. Awareness and timely reporting are the best defenses against such crimes,” he said.

Police Advisory:

• Do not install APK files or click on links received from unknown or unverified sources.
• Shop only from official and trusted e-commerce websites.
• Avoid sharing bank details, OTPs or card information on unfamiliar sites.
• Be cautious of messages promising gifts, rewards, or lucky draws during the festive season.
• Enable two-factor authentication on all online banking and shopping accounts.
• Report any suspicious activity or monetary loss immediately.

Report cybercrime immediately to the National Cyber Crime Helpline (1930) or file a complaint online at www.cybercrime.gov.in.