Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
The site looked professional, the prices were spectacular, and the payment page worked perfectly. Then nothing arrived, the “customer support” went silent, and the site itself vanished. Fake e-commerce websites are cheap to build and quick to abandon, and the same tricks show up again and again. This guide shows how to check a shop before paying, and what to do if you already have.
Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, e-commerce entities must display their legal name, address, and contact details, including the customer care and grievance officer. If a shop has no such details, or they lead nowhere, treat that as a serious warning. Genuine sellers are also required to have a grievance officer who acknowledges complaints within 48 hours.
Fraudulent shops often copy a brand’s name with a tiny change. Type known brands’ addresses yourself rather than following ads or links.
Check for a legal entity name, a physical address, and a working grievance officer contact, as the E-Commerce Rules require. Test that the details actually lead somewhere.
Search the shop’s name with words like “scam” or “reviews”. Testimonials on the site itself prove nothing.
A shop that pushes UPI or transfers only, and no card or cash on delivery, is removing your dispute options.
Where possible use a card, which can allow a dispute or chargeback, or cash on delivery for unfamiliar sellers.
A padlock icon or “https” only means the connection is encrypted, not that the seller is honest. Scam sites routinely have both. Treat them as a minimum, never as proof.
| Method | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Card | Contact your card issuer at once and ask about a dispute or chargeback |
| UPI or bank transfer | Call your bank, report the transaction, and file on cybercrime.gov.in / 1930 quickly |
| Cash on delivery | Refuse the parcel if it looks wrong; if paid, complain to the seller and the consumer helpline |
Screenshot the site, product page, order confirmation, and payment receipt now, since sites disappear. Then report to your bank, file at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930, and if the seller is real but unresponsive, use the National Consumer Helpline (1915).
No. Reporting to your bank, cybercrime.gov.in, and the consumer helpline is free.
Yes. A lawyer is worth considering if a real seller refuses a valid claim or the amount is large.
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Check the address, business details, independent reviews, and payment options; unbelievably low prices with UPI-only payment are a strong warning.
No. It means the connection is encrypted; fraudulent sites often use it too.
A card or cash on delivery, since they keep dispute options open compared with UPI or transfers.
Under the E-Commerce Rules, its legal name, address, and contact details, including customer care and a grievance officer.
It depends on how you paid and how fast you reported; card payments generally give more dispute options.
Screenshots of the site, product page, order confirmation, chat, and payment receipt.
Use the grievance officer, NCH 1915, and if needed the consumer commission through e-Jagriti.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify a seller independently before paying.
