A safe online shopping checklist for India
Check the seller, the price, the payment method and the delivery steps before you buy online, to avoid fake shops and refund tricks.
Online shopping is convenient, and so are the fake shops that copy it. Scammers use cheap prices, fake reviews and urgent timers. A short checklist before you pay helps you spot most traps. It takes a minute per order, and it can save a lot of money and frustration for you and your family.
Steps
- Start from the official app or site. Open the shop's official app from the Play Store, or type its address yourself. Do not start from an ad, a forwarded message or a social media offer you did not search for.
- Judge the price and the seller. A price far below the market is a red flag. Check the seller name, ratings and return policy on a known marketplace. Avoid sellers with only a few reviews that all look alike.
- Check the payment page. Read the web address before entering a card or UPI details. A genuine checkout never asks for your UPI PIN to receive a refund. A page that asks for your card PIN is a scam.
- Prefer protected payment options. Use the marketplace's own payment flow, or a card with extra checks, rather than a direct transfer to a person's UPI ID. Cash on delivery can reduce risk for unfamiliar shops.
- Keep records. Save the order confirmation, the seller name and screenshots of the offer. If something goes wrong, you will need them for a complaint to the platform or your bank.
- Be careful with refunds and delivery calls. A caller who says your delivery is stuck and asks for an OTP, or sends a refund link, is a scammer. Use only the order page in the app. Menu names differ slightly on Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, Realme and OnePlus phones.
Menu names differ a little between phone makers and Android versions. If you cannot find a setting, open Settings and use the search box.
Why it matters
Fake shops and refund scams take money in small amounts that people often do not report. A few quick checks remove most of the risk, and they build a habit that protects you even when a deal seems exciting. Being slow and careful is often the cheapest way to shop.
Watch out for
- Never pay by sending money to a personal UPI ID for a shop order.
- A refund never needs your UPI PIN.
- Do not trust a site only because it has a padlock.
- Beware of countdown timers and one-item-left banners.
How Safeavio helps
Safeavio's link check can look at a shop link before you open it, its QR check shows where a code goes before paying, and Money Shield offers a Verify before you pay checklist. These help you spot warning signs. They cannot prove a seller is honest, and they cannot recover money.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions
How can I tell if a shopping site is fake?
Check the full web address, the age and detail of its contact page, reviews on other sites and whether the price is far too low. If it only accepts transfers to personal accounts, walk away.
What should I do if I paid a fake shop?
Call your bank using the number on your card, then call 1930 quickly and report at cybercrime.gov.in. Keep screenshots of the shop, the order and the payment so that you have records ready.