Online Shopping Scams

Question 1

A seller says you must scan a QR code and enter your UPI PIN to receive a shopping refund. What should you do?

Consider whether authorizing a UPI transaction is normally necessary just to receive money.

Ask the seller to send another QR code Do not authorize the transaction and verify the refund through the platform's official channel Scan it because refunds always require a UPI PIN Scan it but enter a different PIN

Question 2

A seller asks you to send a photo of your debit card and identity document to 'activate buyer protection.' What should you do?

Consider whether an individual seller should need sensitive financial and identity documents to provide platform protection.

Refuse and verify any buyer-protection requirements directly with the marketplace Send both because buyer protection requires identity verification Send only the debit card Send the documents with your signature added

Question 3

You find a new shopping website offering a ₹60,000 smartphone for ₹8,999 as a 'Today Only' deal. What should you do before buying?

Consider whether the price and urgency are designed to stop you from checking the seller.

Buy immediately before the offer expires Trust it if the website has a countdown timer Trust the store because it displays product photos Verify the website, seller reputation, contact information, policies, and independent reviews before paying

Question 4

An online seller says, 'Only one item is left. Transfer the money in the next five minutes or I'll sell it to someone else.' What is the main warning sign?

Think about how scammers influence people to make decisions without verification.

The item is popular The seller accepts online payments The seller is creating artificial urgency to pressure you into paying The seller replied quickly

Question 5

You receive an email saying, 'Your shopping account has been suspended. Verify your password immediately,' with a login button. What is the safest action?

Avoid relying on the route provided by an unexpected security message.

Forward your login details to customer support Open the retailer's official app or manually access its verified website and check your account there Reply to the email with your password Use the button because account suspension is urgent

Question 6

Before purchasing from an unfamiliar online store, which action provides the strongest safety check?

Look for verification that does not depend entirely on information supplied by the store itself.

Checking independent reviews, seller history, policies, contact details, and website information Checking only whether the website looks professional Checking whether product images are attractive Checking whether the website uses discount banners

Question 7

A seller asks for your OTP to 'confirm your identity' before dispatching an online order. What should you do?

Authentication codes can authorize sensitive account or payment actions.

Do not share the OTP and verify the request through the platform's official support Post the OTP in the marketplace chat Share it because the order has already been placed Share only the first half of the OTP

Question 8

A seller sends you a payment link with a domain unrelated to the marketplace where you found the product. What should you do?

Compare the payment destination with the platform where the transaction is supposed to occur.

Complete payment through the marketplace's official checkout instead Use it if the seller promises a refund Use the link because the seller generated it Use the link if it opens quickly

Question 9

You receive a message offering a refund for an order you never placed. The sender asks you to click a link and enter your shopping account password. What is the safest response?

An unexpected refund can be used as bait to capture account credentials.

Click because receiving free money has no risk Enter your password but change it afterward Ignore the link and independently check your account through the retailer's official app or website Send the sender your username so they can investigate

Question 10

A seller offers a substantial discount if you pay using cryptocurrency instead of the marketplace checkout. Why should you be cautious?

Consider what happens to marketplace protections when payment is moved elsewhere.

Cryptocurrency automatically makes every seller fraudulent Marketplace checkout is only useful for delivery tracking The discount proves the seller has too much stock The request moves the transaction outside the marketplace and may remove important buyer protections

Question 11

A refund agent asks you to install a screen-sharing application so they can 'process your shopping refund.' What should you do?

Consider what another person could see or control while you access financial apps.

Decline and contact the retailer through its verified customer-support channel Install it and open your banking app Install it but hide your balance Install two screen-sharing apps for additional security

Question 12

You see an Instagram advertisement for a branded watch at a 90% discount from an unfamiliar store. Does the presence of the advertisement prove the seller is genuine?

Consider the difference between seeing an advertisement and independently verifying a merchant.

No, the store and offer should still be independently verified Yes, because social-media advertisements are always verified Yes, if the advertisement has many likes Yes, if the advertisement uses the brand's logo

Question 13

A marketplace seller has a recently created profile, no transaction history, an unusually cheap high-value product, and insists on immediate advance payment. How should you assess the situation?

Evaluate the warning signs together rather than considering only the advertised price.

A new profile proves the seller is genuine Immediate payment guarantees that the seller will reserve the item The combination of warning signs makes additional verification or avoiding the transaction appropriate The low price makes the other warning signs irrelevant

Question 14

An online seller provides a tracking number, but the courier's official tracking service says the number does not exist. The seller keeps asking you to wait. What should you do?

Use independently verifiable delivery information rather than relying only on the seller's claims.

Assume the tracking number will eventually become valid Give the seller your banking password to request a refund Send the seller additional money for new tracking Verify the order through the marketplace and courier and use the platform's dispute process if appropriate

Question 15

You receive a call from someone claiming to be a delivery agent who asks for an OTP that just arrived on your phone. What should you do?

Read the OTP message itself and consider what action the code may authorize.

Do not share the OTP and verify the delivery through the official shopping or courier service Read the OTP aloud because delivery agents need verification Share it if the parcel is cash on delivery Share the OTP if the caller knows your name