JAMMU, May 25: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday issued a cyber safety advisory warning people against fake online discounts, fraudulent advertisements and shopping scams circulating on social media platforms.
Police said cyber criminals were increasingly using fake “limited-time offers”, massive discount deals and flashy advertisements to create urgency among shoppers and lure them into clicking suspicious links or making online payments without verification.
According to the advisory, such scams are designed to steal banking details, confidential personal information and money through fake websites, cloned shopping portals and malicious payment gateways.
The police urged citizens to remain cautious while shopping online and verify offers before making payments.
People were also advised not to open suspicious links shared through SMS, WhatsApp messages, advertisements or social media posts.
Authorities asked users to stay alert against offers that appear “too good to be true” and use only trusted and verified platforms for online shopping and digital transactions.
“Fake discounts and unbelievable online offers are common tricks used by cyber criminals to cheat people. Users must remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to such frauds,” the advisory stated.
Police also appealed to the public to immediately report cyber frauds, suspicious transactions or online scams through the national cyber helpline 1930 or the official cybercrime reporting portal.
