TL;DR: Diwali is India's biggest online shopping season, with major sales running through October and November. Shop only through official retailer apps and websites, pay through the platform's own checkout rather than a link in a message, and treat any 'redelivery fee' SMS as a scam.
Diwali is India's biggest online shopping season, with major sales running through October and November.
How the Scam Plays Out
Fake deal sites and social media ads mimic popular retailers with prices far below the real sale price, taking payment and shipping nothing or a counterfeit. Fraudulent courier and 'delivery failed' SMS links sent around the same window try to phish payment details under the guise of a redelivery fee.
How to Protect Yourself
Shop only through official retailer apps and websites, pay through the platform's own checkout rather than a link in a message, and treat any 'redelivery fee' SMS as a scam.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Exam Result Season Phishing Scams.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Festive Season Delivery and Courier Scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this typically happen?
Diwali is India's biggest online shopping season, with major sales running through October and November.
What tactics are used?
Fake deal sites and social media ads mimic popular retailers with prices far below the real sale price, taking payment and shipping nothing or a counterfeit. Fraudulent courier and 'delivery failed' SMS links sent around the same window try to phish payment details under the guise of a redelivery fee.
How can I protect myself?
Shop only through official retailer apps and websites, pay through the platform's own checkout rather than a link in a message, and treat any 'redelivery fee' SMS as a scam.
What should I do if I’ve already been targeted?
Stop all payments immediately, contact your bank or card issuer to see if a transaction can be reversed or flagged, and report the incident to the appropriate consumer protection body.