Fake online offers and coupon scams can make a genuine-looking discount appear irresistible. From social media ads and WhatsApp links to imitation shopping websites, scammers increasingly use familiar brands, limited-time deals and payment requests to trick shoppers into sending money or personal information.
Why fake online offers are becoming harder to spot
Fake online offers are no longer limited to poorly designed websites with obvious spelling mistakes. Scammers can create professional-looking pages, copy brand logos, run paid advertisements and use social media accounts that appear legitimate.
The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, or I4C, has warned about fraud involving fake websites, deceptive social media pages, WhatsApp accounts and paid search advertisements. In an April 2025 advisory, I4C specifically highlighted online booking scams where victims were directed to convincing but fraudulent websites and discovered the fraud only after making payments.
The same pattern can apply to shopping discounts, coupon codes, festival sales and special offers. A message promising an unusually large discount may direct a shopper to a website that looks like a familiar retailer but is controlled by someone else.
For consumers in smaller cities and towns, where social media and messaging apps are increasingly important sources of shopping information, knowing how to verify an offer before paying is essential.
Check the website before using the coupon
The first step is to examine the website address carefully.
Do not assume that a website is genuine simply because its design resembles a major shopping platform. Look at the exact domain name in the browser’s address bar. Fraudulent websites may use additional words, unusual spellings or domain names designed to resemble established brands.
For example, a fake website might use a brand name followed by words such as sale, offers, clearance or India while using a completely different domain.
A secure connection indicated by HTTPS is useful, but it is not proof that a website is genuine. A fraudulent website can also have HTTPS encryption.
Instead, reach the retailer through its known official website or verified application and check whether the same offer is advertised there. If a coupon appears only through a random social media post or forwarded WhatsApp message, treat it with additional caution.
Be suspicious of discounts that look too good
An unusually large discount is one of the clearest warning signs.
A product normally priced at ₹20,000 being offered for ₹2,000 may sound like a clearance deal, but shoppers should pause before making a payment. Compare the price with established retailers and the brand’s official website.
This does not mean every large discount is fraudulent. Genuine clearance sales, bank offers, seasonal promotions and coupon combinations can produce significant savings. The issue is whether the discount can be independently verified.
Check the final price after applying the coupon. Some offers advertise a very high percentage discount but apply only to selected products, require a minimum purchase value or have a maximum discount limit.
Read the terms before paying rather than relying only on the headline discount.
Verify coupon codes on the official platform
A coupon code should ideally be tested directly on the retailer’s legitimate website or app before payment.
If a social media post claims that a brand is offering a special coupon, open the brand’s official platform separately instead of clicking the promotional link. Search for the offer there and compare the conditions.
Be particularly careful with coupons that require you to pay a small amount to activate a much larger discount. A scammer may claim that a ₹99 payment is necessary to unlock a ₹5,000 voucher, cashback or shopping reward.
There can also be legitimate coupons with restrictions, so a failed code does not automatically prove fraud. However, if the coupon is accompanied by pressure to pay immediately or provide sensitive information, stop and verify the promotion first.
The National Consumer Helpline has documented online shopping complaints involving misleading or unavailable offers, including a case where a consumer believed an advertised laptop offer should have been honoured after receiving an invoice, but the company later said the offer had expired.
Never share an OTP to receive a discount
A coupon or discount does not normally require you to disclose an OTP to another person.
If someone claiming to be a retailer’s representative asks for an OTP, UPI PIN, card PIN, CVV or banking password to process a discount or cashback, do not provide it.
Payment authentication should be completed through the legitimate payment interface. Do not read an OTP aloud to a caller or enter banking credentials on a website reached through an unsolicited message.
Scammers may also use fake customer-care numbers displayed on search engines, social media pages or websites. If you need help with an order, use the customer-care details available through the retailer’s official app or website rather than relying on a number sent through WhatsApp.
Watch how the payment request works
The payment stage can reveal a suspicious offer.
Be cautious if a seller insists that you pay through a personal UPI ID, asks you to scan an unfamiliar QR code or sends a payment link unrelated to the retailer’s normal checkout process.
A UPI payment request can also be misunderstood. Receiving money is different from approving a payment request. Never enter your UPI PIN simply because someone says it is required to receive a refund, cashback or prize.
Before approving any payment, check the recipient’s name and the amount displayed by your payment application.
If the details do not match the expected merchant or the seller creates pressure to complete the transaction immediately, stop.
Social media offers need extra verification
Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp can be useful places to discover legitimate sales, but a social media post itself does not establish that an offer is genuine.
I4C has previously warned that fraudsters use fake social media pages and paid advertisements to promote convincing but fraudulent services.
Look for the brand’s verified account where applicable, but do not rely on a verification badge alone. Check whether the promotion is also visible on the company’s official website or app.
Be careful with accounts that have recently been created, have limited engagement, repeatedly change usernames or use comments filled with identical claims about winning vouchers and receiving huge discounts.
A genuine-looking comment section can also be manipulated, so independent verification matters more than social proof.
Check the return, refund and contact information
Before buying from an unfamiliar online store, check whether the website provides a clear return policy, refund policy, terms and conditions, customer-care information and physical business details.
Missing or vague information should make you reconsider the purchase.
However, even a website containing these pages should not automatically be considered trustworthy. Scammers can copy policies from legitimate businesses.
Use the information as one part of your verification process. Search for independent customer experiences and check whether the business has a consistent online presence.
The National Consumer Helpline provides consumers with a central mechanism for registering grievances and says consumers have rights relating to information, choice, fair treatment and redressal.
What to do if you have already paid
If you realise that an online offer was fraudulent after making a payment, act quickly.
For cyber financial fraud in India, the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal advises victims to call 1930 for immediate reporting. Complaints can also be submitted through the official cybercrime portal.
Keep screenshots of the offer, website address, messages, payment confirmation, transaction ID, phone numbers, UPI ID and other relevant information. Do not delete the communication before preserving the evidence.
You can also approach the National Consumer Helpline for consumer-related grievances. The Department of Consumer Affairs lists 1915 as the National Consumer Helpline toll-free number and provides online and other complaint channels.
If you shared banking credentials or other sensitive information, contact your bank or payment provider immediately and follow its fraud-reporting process.
A five-minute check can prevent a costly mistake
The easiest way to avoid coupon scams is to slow down when an offer creates urgency.
Check the domain. Compare the price. Verify the coupon on the official platform. Inspect the payment recipient. Never disclose OTPs or UPI PINs to someone promising a discount.
A genuine sale will usually still be there after you spend a few minutes verifying it. If a seller insists that you must pay immediately or lose the deal, that pressure itself is a reason to stop and investigate.
Key Takeaways
- Verify the website domain and confirm the offer through the retailer’s official website or app.
- Treat unusually large discounts, urgent payment requests and unfamiliar coupon links with caution.
- Never share OTPs, UPI PINs, CVV numbers or banking passwords to receive a discount, refund or cashback.
- If money has already been lost to a cyber fraud, call 1930 immediately and report the incident through the official cybercrime reporting system.
FAQs
How can I tell if an online coupon is genuine?
Check whether the coupon appears on the retailer’s official website or app. Verify the exact domain, read the terms and compare the offer with other established retailers. Do not rely solely on a social media post or forwarded message.
Can a website with HTTPS still be a scam?
Yes. HTTPS helps encrypt the connection between your browser and the website, but it does not prove that the website itself is legitimate. Always verify the domain and business independently.
What should I do if I paid a fake shopping website?
If you believe you have suffered cyber financial fraud, call 1930 immediately and report the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Keep payment records, screenshots, URLs and communication as evidence.
Where can I complain about an online shopping dispute?
Consumers can approach the National Consumer Helpline through its official channels. The Department of Consumer Affairs lists 1915 as the toll-free helpline and provides online, app and WhatsApp options for grievances.
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