Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
Online shopping fraud in India covers a lot of ground: fake sellers, fake websites, fake customer-care numbers, delivery and courier scams, QR and OTP tricks, counterfeit goods, and refunds that never come. They look different, but they follow a small number of patterns — and the first job after any of them is the same: work out whether you’re dealing with fraud (someone took your money or codes) or a consumer dispute (a genuine order went wrong), because the two have different remedies. This guide is the hub for both, with a dedicated guide for each situation.
| What Happened | Where to Go First |
|---|---|
| Someone contacted you and took money, an OTP, or a PIN | Your bank immediately, then cybercrime.gov.in / 1930 |
| You paid a fake seller or site that vanished | Your bank or card issuer, then cybercrime.gov.in; consumer route only if the seller is traceable |
| A genuine order was not delivered, was fake, or the refund is missing | Platform support, the grievance officer, National Consumer Helpline 1915, then e-Jagriti |
End the call or chat, uninstall any remote-access or unfamiliar app, and turn off mobile data if the device may be exposed.
Ask to block cards, UPI, and net banking. Reporting speed affects how much protection you get under RBI’s rules.
List every unauthorised transaction. Keep the acknowledgement.
Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930. Early reports improve the chance of freezing the receiving account.
Save screenshots of listings, chats, links, phone numbers, and receipts before they disappear.
Under the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020, every e-commerce entity must display its legal name, address, and contact details, including customer care and a grievance officer. The grievance officer must acknowledge a complaint within 48 hours and resolve it within one month. If the platform doesn’t resolve it, the National Consumer Helpline (1915) mediates with the company, and you can file on the e-Jagriti portal within two years. You can do this yourself, without a lawyer. Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, remedies include refund, replacement, and compensation.
Fake Amazon seller scams · the OLX Army officer scam · OLX scams in general · Facebook Marketplace scams · Marketplace fake payments · Instagram shopping fraud
Fake e-commerce websites · fake Flipkart customer care · Meesho scams · fake customer care numbers in general
courier delivery payment scams · fake courier SMS · fake courier messages on WhatsApp · fake customs parcel scams · fake delivery executives asking for OTP
QR code parcel scams · fake QR fraud · UPI collect requests · fake cashback offers · OTP fraud
counterfeit products · wrong product delivered · product not delivered after payment · refunds not received · Amazon or Flipkart refunds · how to file a consumer complaint online · e-commerce fraud complaints
Reporting to your bank, cybercrime.gov.in, the grievance officer, and the National Consumer Helpline is free. A consumer commission filing carries a modest fee based on the claim value.
Yes, for nearly everything in this guide. A lawyer helps mainly with large sums, traceable sellers who refuse valid claims, or banks that dispute liability.
Need professional legal help with this?
Find a Lawyer on VidyodayIf your documents were shared during a scam, see our guide on identity theft in India; for payment-app fraud generally, see UPI fraud: report it and recover your money, and for the reporting process itself, how to file on the National Cyber Crime Portal.
If someone contacted you and took money, a code, or a PIN, it’s fraud. If a genuine order simply failed, it’s a consumer dispute.
Call your bank on its official number to block cards and UPI, then report on cybercrime.gov.in or 1930.
No. You can use the grievance officer, the National Consumer Helpline, and e-Jagriti yourself.
The grievance officer must acknowledge within 48 hours and resolve within one month under the E-Commerce Rules.
Generally within two years of the cause of action.
Cards and cash on delivery generally keep more dispute options open than UPI or bank transfers to unknown sellers.
It depends on how fast you report and how you paid; recovery isn’t guaranteed, which is why prevention matters.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Portals, contact details, and rules change — verify current steps on the official pages.
