Online shopping victims

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of online shoppers, and with that the rise in online shopping scams like gift card frauds, postal delivery frauds etc have also increased. A report by Norton suggests that many Indian adults surveyed who have fallen victim and been defrauded while online shopping have been impacted financially and have lost money as a result. While some consumers are not strangers to threats and are taking preventative measures to protect themselves online, there is always room for improvement.

The festive season is often a time when many people buy gifts for their family and friends. This holiday season, Indian adults surveyed expect tech-based gifts including smartphones (64%), smart watches (55%), and smart home devices (47%) to be the most sought out gifts.

The report of Norton highlights the importance of taking precautions with your personal information online. The findings reveal that though only a small minority of adults in India surveyed (8%) plan to buy fewer technology gifts this festive season compared to years past, over 4 in 5 of those planning to buy less tech gifts (84%) say this is due to concerns of rising costs of living and inflation.

To help with inflation/the rising cost of living, most Indians surveyed (91%) are likely to take cost cutting measures of some kind this festive season, which for some includes clicking on a questionable link offering them a good deal on technology products (36%) or a reduced energy bill (29%).

Two-thirds of Indian adults surveyed are at least concerned about the following when shopping online during the holiday season:

• Their personal details being compromised (78%)

• Being defrauded by a third-party retailer (77%)

• Unintentionally receiving a counterfeit version of a gift (76%)

• A device they buy for someone else being digitally unsafe (75%)

• Their holiday travel arrangements or accommodations being ruined by a scammer (73%)

• Buying or receiving a refurbished device as a gift (72%)

• A device they receive as a gift being hacked (69%)

The survey reveals that spending time online offers an escape for many Indian adults during the festive season. Most Indian adults surveyed (78%) agree that spending time online via their connected devices helps them feel more connected during the festive season, and 74% say that it helps their mental well-being.