TL;DR: Indian wedding season runs roughly October–February, plus April–June, when families manage big budgets. Verify any vendor's registration and reviews before paying an advance, and always confirm payment details by phone using a number looked up independently, not the one in a message.
Indian wedding season runs roughly October–February, plus April–June, when families manage big budgets.
How the Scam Plays Out
Fake venue, catering, and decor listings collect a booking advance and vanish, while scammers impersonating a genuine vendor send a spoofed message with 'updated' bank details right before a payment is due.
How to Protect Yourself
Verify any vendor's registration and reviews before paying an advance, and always confirm payment details by phone using a number looked up independently, not the one in a message.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Year-End Bonus and Payroll Phishing (India).
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Diwali Online Shopping Scams.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does this typically happen?
Indian wedding season runs roughly October–February, plus April–June, when families manage big budgets.
What tactics are used?
Fake venue, catering, and decor listings collect a booking advance and vanish, while scammers impersonating a genuine vendor send a spoofed message with 'updated' bank details right before a payment is due.
How can I protect myself?
Verify any vendor's registration and reviews before paying an advance, and always confirm payment details by phone using a number looked up independently, not the one in a message.
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.