These days, everyone prefers online shopping from the comfort of their homes. From clothing to electronics, everything is delivered with just one click. But do you know whether the website you’re buying from is genuine or a fake shop created by a hacker? Yes, the biggest online shopping scam to date has been uncovered, dubbed “DoppelCart.” Nebty, a German cybersecurity company, has revealed that hackers have created over 119,000 fake websites. These websites look so authentic that even the most discerning individual can be deceived. Let’s learn how this scam works and how you can protect your hard-earned money from being stolen.
Security researchers have uncovered a cybercrime network called “DoppelCart” that has caused widespread uproar on the internet. According to the German company Nebty, hackers have created a vast empire of fake online stores using more than 119,000 domains (website addresses). Previously, a scam called “BogusBazaar” had 75,000 sites, but DoppelCart has surpassed that record by far. It has become the largest fake shopping network ever.
This scam is so dangerous because it is so cleverly designed. Hackers have created fake stores of approximately 44,182 real and well-known international brands. These include popular brands like CurrentBody, SodaStream, Velasca, Daniel Wellington, Dreame, and Horze. Hackers load photos, logos, and product descriptions directly from the real brands’ servers onto their fake websites. This means that when you view product photos or details, you won’t have even a 1% doubt that the website is fake.
When a customer selects an item on these fake sites and then goes to the checkout page to make payment, the real game begins. These checkout pages contain dangerous code that steals all your personal and bank details. This includes your card number, card expiration date, CVV code, your name, email address, phone number, and even your home address, all of which are sent directly to the hackers’ servers. Subsequently, exorbitant amounts of money are deducted from your card.
To lure customers, these fake websites offer steep discounts ranging from 50% to 65% on products. Whenever a user sees an advertisement or sponsored link on social media, they immediately click to buy after seeing such low prices. Hackers know that Indian and global customers make quick decisions when they see discounts, and they exploit this to target them.
If you shop online, be especially careful about these things to protect yourself and your family from fraud:
Check the website address carefully: Always buy from an official app or a reputable website instead of clicking on any unknown link.
Check reviews on Google: If you’re shopping from a new site, search Google for the site’s name followed by ‘Scam’ or ‘Review’.
Avoid unbelievable discounts: If a brand is offering you a 70-80% discount that seems unrealistic, then there’s something fishy.
Use a credit card: Always use a credit card when making payments, as it offers a chargeback option in case of fraud.
Don’t share your OTP with anyone: Carefully read the verification message from your bank to see how much the deducted amount is. Never share your OTP with anyone.
If you are cheated, immediately inform your bank without any delay and lodge a complaint on the cyber crime portal.