The short answer
Do not judge an online shop by a polished homepage or a padlock symbol alone. Before paying, verify the exact web address, who is selling the product, how the seller can be contacted, what happens if the order goes wrong and where the payment is going.
HTTPS means the connection is encrypted. It does not confirm that the business, product or offer is genuine. A fake store can also use HTTPS, copied product photos and a convincing checkout page.
A genuine-looking page is only the start. Trust comes from details that agree across the website, payment screen, invoice and independent sources.
A seven-point check before you place the order
| Check | What to look for | Reason to pause |
|---|---|---|
| Web address | Correct spelling, expected domain and no strange extra words | A link opens a lookalike or unrelated domain |
| Seller identity | Business or seller name, address and working contact route | Only a social-media message or personal number is available |
| Product and price | Specific description, model, condition and believable price | Huge discount with vague product details or copied images |
| Policies | Clear delivery, cancellation, return, refund and warranty terms | Important terms appear only after payment |
| Payment | Merchant name and amount match the order | Payment is requested to an unrelated personal account or collect request |
| Reviews | Recent, detailed feedback across more than one source | Repetitive praise, no useful detail or reviews only on the seller's page |
| Support | Grievance or customer-care route you can save | No address, ticket system or written acknowledgement |
India's Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules require specified information to be displayed by e-commerce entities and marketplace sellers. This includes important return, refund, payment, grievance and seller details. The rules do not turn every displayed detail into proof, but missing or contradictory information is a useful reason to stop.
CouponPe1. Open the site independently
If the offer arrived through an SMS, messaging app, social post or advertisement, do not begin with the supplied payment link. Search for the business independently, compare the domain with its verified profile or official app listing, and type the address yourself when possible.
CERT-In warns that phishing messages can use urgent language and counterfeit websites to collect credentials or payment information. Treat a minor spelling change, extra hyphen or unusual domain ending as a reason to investigate, not a harmless design choice.
A padlock is still worth checking because you should not send sensitive information over an unencrypted page. Just remember that encryption protects data in transit; it does not certify the seller.
2. Identify the actual seller
On a marketplace, the platform name and seller name may be different. Record both. Check the seller's address, contact route, product description, country of origin where applicable, and grievance details shown before purchase. For an independent store, look for a consistent business name across the contact page, terms, payment screen and invoice information.
Do not treat a GST number, logo or office photo as conclusive by itself. Details can be copied. The safer question is whether several checkable facts agree and whether support responds to a specific product or policy question in writing.
When shopping through familiar marketplaces, open the current product and seller terms after comparing Amazon coupon options or Flipkart coupon options. For fashion purchases, the same rule applies after checking Myntra coupons or AJIO coupons. CouponPe helps with offer discovery; it does not verify every third-party seller or product listing.
3. Test the offer against reality
Compare the exact model, size, condition and total price with the brand's official page and at least one established seller. A low price is not automatically fraudulent, but an exceptional discount needs a clear explanation such as an older model, open-box condition or documented sale.
Read the final payable amount, delivery charge and optional add-ons. CouponPe's final-price comparison guide explains how to compare a sale price, coupon and bank offer without changing the original cart. If a timer, hidden add-on or late charge is pushing the decision, use the dark-pattern checkout checklist before proceeding.
4. Read the remedy before you need it
Find the cancellation, return, replacement, refund and warranty terms before paying. Check the time window, excluded categories, return shipping, condition requirements and who provides warranty service. Save the policy with the listing because the page can change later.
A vague promise such as easy returns is less useful than a written process. CouponPe's return, refund and warranty guide can help you match the remedy to the problem and preserve the right evidence.
5. Check the payment request carefully
Confirm the merchant name and amount on the final bank, card or UPI screen. Do not share an OTP, PIN, password or screen-control access. RBI's fraud-awareness material reminds users that entering a UPI PIN authorises money to leave the account; a PIN is not required to receive a refund.
Be especially cautious if a store moves the conversation away from its checkout and asks for payment to an unrelated personal UPI ID or bank account. A different payment route is not proof of fraud, but the mismatch needs a clear, verifiable explanation before you authorise it.
The National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal also advises using your own device and a trusted network for shopping or banking. Avoid completing sensitive payments on a public computer, cyber cafe or free public Wi-Fi.
CouponPeIf you have already paid a suspicious store
Act quickly and keep the evidence intact. Save the web address, listing, chat, seller details, order confirmation, payment reference, bank alert and any invoice. Do not continue a conversation that asks for another payment to release a refund.
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately through its official channel and report the transaction.
Report online financial fraud promptly on 1930 and use the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in.
Contact the store or platform through a verified grievance route and keep the ticket number.
For an unresolved consumer dispute, use the official National Consumer Helpline route.
If the payment was debited but the order merely failed, follow the separate UPI failed-order refund timeline so a technical reversal is not confused with suspected fraud.
If an unrecognised parcel reaches your door without any matching order, use the unexpected cash-on-delivery parcel checklist before anyone at home pays or shares an OTP.
The practical decision rule
Proceed only when the domain, seller, product, policy and payment request tell the same story. If one important element cannot be verified, leave the cart and investigate from a separate trusted source. Missing a discount is inconvenient. Sending money or personal details to an unverified store is harder to undo.