Online shopping in India has never been bigger. And neither have the scams that come with it. In just the first five months of 2025, Indians lost over Rs. 7,000 crore to online scams. From Myntra hauls to electronics on Flipkart and daily groceries on Blinkit, most Indians now shop online regularly. But scam websites, fake sellers, phishing links disguised as delivery alerts, and payment fraud are catching more people off guard than ever. Many of these scams look completely legitimate until it is too late.
If you have ever received a “Your order could not be delivered” SMS asking you to click a link, or landed on a website offering an iPhone at 80% off, you have already encountered what millions of Indians deal with every year. Here is how to stay safe, shop smart, and track your orders without falling into the usual traps.
Know the Red Flags Before You Even Add to Cart
The most dangerous moment in online shopping is not at checkout. It is when you are browsing a deal that feels too good to be true.
Here are some common red flags to be aware of:
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Prices that are drastically below market rate
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Websites with no “About Us” page, no physical address, or no clear return policy
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URLs that look almost right but are slightly off
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Checkout pages that only accept UPI transfers to a personal number, with no option for card or net banking
Before shopping from any website you are not familiar with, look it up. Search for the brand name along with “review” or “complaint” in India to see if others have raised issues. A quick check takes less than two minutes and can save you a lot more than that.
Safe Payment Practices That Most Shoppers Skip
Payment is where most scams succeed. Once you have transferred money, recovering it is difficult and often impossible.
Check out the habits below that will protect you:
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Always prefer COD for first-time purchases from unfamiliar platforms
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Use a credit card over a debit card when paying online; credit cards offer better fraud protection and dispute options
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Never save your card details on a website you do not fully trust
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Avoid paying via direct UPI transfers to individuals; use platform-integrated payment gateways instead
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Enable transaction alerts on your bank account and UPI app so you catch any unauthorised charges immediately
If a seller asks you to “pay on WhatsApp” or share an OTP to “confirm your delivery,” that is a scam. No genuine e-commerce platform works this way.
How to Spot Fake Delivery and Order Scams
Phishing through fake delivery messages is now one of the most common scams targeting Indian online shoppers. You will receive an SMS or email that appears to be from Delhivery, DTDC, Ekart, or Amazon Logistics, asking you to “reschedule your delivery” or “pay a customs fee” by clicking a link. These messages often use urgency, such as “Your package will be returned in 24 hours,” to push you to click without thinking.
The good news is that spotting these is not that hard once you know what to look for. Courier scams, fake order alerts, and phishing links are among the most reported online shopping frauds in India right now, and they follow predictable patterns.
Here are some steps you must take:
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Always track your order directly from the original app or website where you placed the order, not from links in SMS or email
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Copy the tracking number and paste it into the courier’s official website manually
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Check if the tracking number format matches the courier mentioned
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If a message claims your package is stuck and you need to pay, log in to your account and verify before doing anything
Tracking Orders Without Stress
Most people check their order status multiple times a day, which also means more chances of landing on fake tracking pages.
The safest way to track an order is through the platform you bought from. Every major platform, including Amazon, Flipkart, Meesho, Nykaa, and Ajio, has a built-in order tracking feature that connects directly to the logistics partner. Use that.
If you need to track on a courier’s website directly, go to Google, type the courier’s name, and click their official website from the search results rather than following any link sent to you. Apps like Delhivery, Blue Dart, and India Post all have their own official apps on the Play Store and App Store.
Pro Tip: If your tracking has not updated in more than three days and delivery was expected sooner, contact the seller or platform directly through the app’s customer support, not through any number listed in an SMS.
What to Do If You Have Already Been Scammed
If something has gone wrong, acting fast matters.
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Report the fraud immediately on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in.
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Call your bank’s helpline within hours to initiate a chargeback or flag the transaction.
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You can file a complaint by calling the National Police Helpline at 112 and the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930
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Report the seller or fake listing directly on the platform where you encountered it.
Many Indians hesitate to report because they feel embarrassed or don’t think it will lead anywhere. But reporting creates a paper trail, helps authorities identify repeat offenders, and can sometimes lead to a refund through your bank.
Shop With Common Sense as Your First Layer of Security
No app or tool replaces basic alertness. The safest online shoppers are not the most tech-savvy ones. They are the ones who pause for five seconds before clicking a link, who double-check a URL, and who trust their instinct when a deal feels off.
Online shopping in India is largely safe when you stick to verified platforms, use secure payment methods, and track your orders through official channels. The scams that succeed often create panic or excitement, pushing you to act without thinking. Take your time, verify, and shop on your own terms.
