McAfee has revealed that a growing number of Indian consumers have faced cyber risks while shopping during the festive season. The research has shown that nearly one in three Indians have fallen victim to holiday scams, with 37% losing money, highlighting the rise of AI-driven threats, phishing texts, scam emails, and OTP fraud targeting festive shoppers.
The study has highlighted that online shopping has become the preferred mode for festive purchases, driven by better discounts (64%), convenience (60%), wider product variety (52%), and faster delivery (51%). Shoppers have increasingly relied on mobile devices, with 77% making purchases via smartphones. Younger consumers aged 25-44 have emerged as the heaviest users of online platforms, fuelling India’s digital shopping boom.
Alongside this surge in digital shopping, McAfee’s research has shown that 91% of Indians have received suspicious shopping-related messages, with common ploys including fake “gift card wins” (49%), “limited-time offers” (40%), and “refund notifications” (27%). Deepfake celebrity endorsements have been encountered by 69% of consumers, while Indians have faced an average of 12 scam attempts per day through texts, emails, and social media platforms.
McAfee has noted that 72% of shoppers have expressed heightened concern about AI-driven scams compared with last year. The research has also revealed that emotional fallout has been significant, with 91% of those scammed reporting anger, anxiety, or embarrassment, although 28% have rarely shared their experiences publicly.
In response, 98% of Indians have planned proactive measures, including shopping only on trusted websites (55%), using strong passwords (53%), and verifying suspicious messages directly with retailers. McAfee has recommended best practices for safe festive shopping, including verifying sources, enabling two-factor authentication, monitoring accounts, and using AI-powered scam protection.
Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director of Engineering, McAfee, has commented, “The festive season is a time of joy and giving, but it has also become a target for scammers. As technology evolves, so do the threats, with AI-driven scams creating new risks for online shoppers. It’s about more than just being careful, it’s about giving people the confidence to shop smarter and safer. By taking simple steps like checking websites, securing devices, and staying alert, we can outpace bad actors and ensure the spirit of the season remains untarnished.”
