The buzz around both Flipkart’s Big Billion Days and Amazon’s Great Indian Sale is at an all-time high. Taking advantage of this, scamsters too are extremely active and prevalent with fake websites and lucrative offers for consumers. To save yourself from such offers this sale, learn how to spot fake websites online using this guide.
Flipkart Issues Fake Website Warning
In a recent announcement, Flipkart took to its stories blog to inform about the fake website scams taking place. With over 1.4 billion users active in the Big Billion Days Sale in 2023, Flipkart wanted to ensure that all its customers find their way securely onto their website. Here’s how you can find if you’re using a fake or genuine Flipkart website.
5 Ways To Spot Fake Flipkart Website
1. Check the Domain Name
The official Flipkart domain and the website is “flipkart.com.” Having said that, a few examples of similar-looking fake website domains are as follows:
- flipkart.dhamaka-offers.com
- flipkart-bigbillion-sale.com
- flipkart.hikhop.com
You can observe how the name “flipkart-big-billion-sale” depicts it as a genuine, dedicated sales website. In an attempt to find out more such fake domains, I tested out flipkart.help, which led to a casino website. Therefore it is advised to avoid domains ending in .biz, .org, .info, etc.
2. Look Out for Visual Discrepancies
Another way to check if a website is not genuine is to look for photoshopped images with wrong sales dates or smudged text. Inconsistent fonts or extra words like “Lite”, or having unbelievable discounts of latest products such as 98% off would be suspicious.
3. Verify the Security Certificate
Along with the domain of the Flipkart site, you must also ensure that the website uses “https://” and shows a lock icon in the address bar. If, for any reason, the website is marked as “Not Secure”, it is recommended to avoid any purchasing or proceed with extreme caution.
4. Check Any Other Signs
Here are a few other ways you can check if the website is fraudulent by using it for signs especially if:-
- The cart is pre-loaded and not clickable
- There’s no prompt to sign in
- Some links are inactive
- The hamburger menu doesn’t work
- You can proceed with incorrect information
How to Identify a Fake Flipkart App
When verifying the authenticity of a Flipkart app, follow these essential steps:
- Examine the app name for spelling mistakes or suspicious variations.
- Compare the app logo with the official Flipkart logo, looking for subtle differences in design or color.
- Verify that the developer is listed as “Flipkart” and check for a legitimate website link and @flipkart.com email in the developer section.
By carefully following these steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to fake Flipkart apps and ensure a safe shopping experience.
Amazon Scams and How To Prevent It
During major sales events like Amazon’s Great Indian Sale, scammers often increase their activities to exploit unsuspecting shoppers. The most prevalent scam is the OTP fraud, where scammers pose as Amazon representatives and create a false sense of urgency about unexpected orders or deliveries. To protect yourself:
- Never share your OTP or personal information over phone, email, or text.
- Verify purchases directly on Amazon’s official website or app.
- Be wary of suspicious emails, texts, or calls claiming to be from Amazon.
- Ignore requests to change payment information unrelated to your orders.
- Use Amazon’s official payment system and avoid off-platform transactions.
- Enable two-factor authentication for your Amazon account.
Remember, Amazon will never ask for your sign-in OTP or passcode, especially over the phone. If you receive any suspicious communication, report it immediately to Amazon at amazon.in/reportascam. By staying vigilant and following these precautions, you can enjoy a safe shopping experience during the Great Indian Sale.
Wrapping Up
With both Amazon and Flipkart’s Sales geared up to begin on September 27, consumers must take precautions while making the most of it. For more such tips and guides, follow GadgetsToUse.
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