Hyderabad Police Alert Citizens to Rising Tide of Online Shopping Fraud

Hyderabad's Cyber Police have sounded an alarm over the escalating problem of online shopping scams spreading across digital platforms. The authorities have called upon residents to exercise caution by thoroughly verifying all transactions and protecting their personal data before making any purchases or sharing sensitive information.

The advisory comes as part of the "Jagrut Hyderabad – Surakshit Hyderabad" public awareness initiative, with the Cyber Crimes Unit detailing the various deceptive strategies that fraudsters employ to victimise both buyers and sellers in the online marketplace.

According to the police warning, perpetrators deploy a range of fraudulent tactics including counterfeit payment confirmations, QR code scams, phoney delivery service links, and offers that seem too good to be true. These schemes continue to inflict substantial financial damage on unsuspecting victims.

The modus operandi typically involves cybercriminals fabricating payment receipts to dupe sellers into believing transactions have gone through successfully. Simultaneously, they distribute bogus hyperlinks and misleading communications designed to extract funds and confidential personal data from targets.

The Cyber Crimes Unit has advised the public to take time to authenticate the identities of both buyers and sellers before engaging in any online transaction. Residents are urged to maintain heightened vigilance when interacting with unfamiliar parties.

The advisory specifically cautions against disclosing one-time passwords, account credentials, security codes, or any other classified information. Experts warn that criminals routinely exploit such details to breach and raid bank accounts.

Additionally, officials have flagged the danger posed by seemingly lucrative propositions—including prize announcements, lottery winnings, and heavily slashed prices. Such unusually compelling offers frequently serve as lures to ensnare victims in fraudulent schemes.

A particularly dangerous misconception the police highlighted is the practice of scanning QR codes to receive money. Authorities stress that scammers routinely abuse this misunderstanding to siphon funds directly from victims' accounts.

The Cyber Crimes Unit emphasises that shopping exclusively through verified websites and reputable e-commerce platforms provides the strongest protection. Officials maintain that consumer awareness, transaction verification, and constant alertness represent the most effective defences against cyber fraud.

Members of the public who encounter online fraud can reach out through the national helpline number 1930 or lodge complaints via the dedicated cybercrime reporting platform.