Kerala Police Warn Against Fake Flipkart GOAT Sale Scams on Social Media

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Police have warned of a surge in online scams in which fraudsters create fake social media pages and advertisements impersonating Flipkart's GOAT Sale campaign to deceive consumers.

According to the police, scammers are operating fake pages on platforms such as Facebook under names including "Flipkart GOAT SALE," "Goat Sale Live," "Offers Sale," and "FK Goats Offer's," making them appear similar to Flipkart's official pages. These pages advertise premium products such as smartphones, laptops, and other electronic devices at heavily discounted prices to attract buyers.

Users who click on the advertisements are redirected either to fake websites designed to resemble Flipkart's official website or to private WhatsApp numbers. Victims are then pressured to make immediate payments by claiming that the products are available in "limited stock" or that the offer will expire within hours. Fraudsters typically collect money under the guise of booking charges, advance payments, delivery fees, or offer confirmation charges. After receiving the payment, they either fail to deliver the product, demand additional payments, or become unreachable.

Kerala Police have advised the public not to trust promotional offers received through Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, or other social media platforms without verification. Consumers should verify offers only through Flipkart's official mobile application or website. They should also avoid making payments or sharing personal information through links received on social media.

The advisory further cautions against transferring money to unfamiliar bank accounts or UPI IDs and stresses that sensitive information such as OTPs, bank account details, debit or credit card numbers, CVV codes, and PINs should never be shared. Consumers are urged to confirm the authenticity of any promotional offer through official platforms before making a purchase.

Authorities have also advised that anyone who falls victim to an online financial fraud should immediately report the incident by calling the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or by filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.