Authorities urge shoppers to stay cautious amid rise of fake e-commerce websites in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: As online shopping surges, particularly during festive seasons, cybercriminals are preying on unsuspecting customers with fake e-commerce websites that closely mimic legitimate platforms.
These fraudulent platforms lure users with flashy deals and deep discounts, aiming to steal money and sensitive personal information, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.
“Two main types of scams are currently being reported: one involves fraudsters creating counterfeit versions of popular brand websites, while the other features entirely new but fake e-commerce platforms—both heavily promoted on social media and messaging apps to attract buyers,” TNIE quoted a senior officer from a CEN (Cybercrime, Economic Offences and Narcotics) police station in Bengaluru as saying.
The officer added that in most cases, customers are tricked into paying in advance but never receive the products, as fraudsters either collect the money without delivering goods or steal users’ data through malicious links.
He warned that such fake sites often contain subtle spelling errors in brand names that typically go unnoticed, and added that clicking unknown links or trusting deals that seem too good to be true significantly increases the risk. “Always verify the URL, look out for misspellings in the domain, and double-check offers through official brand websites,” he said.
A senior officer from the North division further revealed that some companies have filed police complaints after receiving disputes over orders they never processed. “Victims who lose small amounts, between Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000, often don’t report it, which allows these scams to continue unchecked,” TNIE quoted him as saying.
Authorities are advising online shoppers to stay vigilant and report any suspicious websites to help curb further fraudulent activity.
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Davanagere: Hoax bomb threat email triggers security scare at district court
Davanagere: A bomb threat email received at the District Court in the city’s Devaraj Arasu area on Monday morning triggered panic and a full-scale security check of the court premises.
According to police, the threat message was received on the official email ID of the District Court at around 8.30 am. Following this, the bomb disposal squad and dog squad rushed to the spot and conducted a thorough inspection of the entire court complex.
After detailed checks, officials confirmed that no explosive materials were found and declared the threat to be a hoax.
Police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the email and identify the sender.
As a preventative measure, security has been tightened at key government offices and important buildings in the city, including the District Court complex.
