Diwali 2025 Cybercrime Alert: How AI-Powered Cyber Frauds Are Targeting Online Shoppers

As the Diwali festival approaches, online shopping in India surges, but so does cybercrime, heightening the risk of financial frauds. Cybersecurity firms report a 40% rise in scam cases during this festive season, with 15% of attacks being behaviorally targeted using AI to craft highly convincing and personalized scam messages and links.

Fraudsters exploit AI and machine learning to analyze users' search patterns, shopping habits, and online activity, enabling them to mimic legitimate communications convincingly. This trend makes it increasingly difficult for victims to differentiate between genuine and fake offers, leading to significant financial losses.

During festivals like Diwali and Dussehra, scammers disseminate fake deals and promotional offers primarily through emails, SMS, social media posts, and even AI-generated celebrity endorsements. According to McAfee surveys, 95% of Indians shop during festivals, creating an ideal environment for cybercriminals to exploit.

E-greeting cards sent during festivities have also become vectors for Trojan malware infections. These Trojans can hijack mobile apps and send fraudulent ransom messages, tricking users into financially aiding the fraudsters and expanding their scams further.

Cybersecurity experts from firms like Kaspersky and Akamai warn that traditional security patterns are inadequate against sophisticated AI-based scams. As AI techniques evolve, users are advised to exercise extreme caution, as once defrauded, retrieving lost money is often impossible.

Practical tips to safeguard against Diwali cyber scams include avoiding clicks on unknown links or discount offers, verifying transactions via official channels, installing reputable antivirus software, avoiding transactions over public WiFi, and refraining from downloading e-cards or files from unfamiliar sources.

Awareness and vigilance are crucial as cyberattacks grow in complexity and scale during festive seasons, making cautious online shopping imperative for digital safety this Diwali.1. Online meeting option: Arattai allows scheduling online meetings with co-hosts and timezone settings, unlike WhatsApp which only supports calls and group chats.

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