As India lights up for Diwali, cybercriminals are cashing in on the nation’s festive frenzy. A new McAfee report has sounded the alarm — revealing that one in three Indian consumers has fallen victim to an online scam this festive season, with AI and deepfake technology reshaping cybercrime like never before.
From fake celebrity ads to cloned e-commerce sites, scammers are creating highly realistic traps that even the tech-savvy struggle to identify. 37% of victims reported direct financial losses, while others suffered data theft, identity compromise, and emotional stress.
“AI Has Become a New Weapon for Scammers,” Warns McAfee
Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director of Engineering at McAfee, said that the digital boom around Diwali has created a “gold rush for fraudsters.”
“The festive season is a time of generosity and gifting — and scammers know how to exploit that emotion. AI-generated deepfakes and fake discount campaigns are among the most dangerous threats to Indian consumers today,” he said.
He urged people to verify URLs, avoid unverified links, and use strong passwords to stay safe during online shopping sprees.
India’s Festive Shopping Is Going Digital — and Riskier
With more than 77% of Indians shopping via smartphones, digital retail has become the heart of festive celebrations. But with convenience comes vulnerability:
◆96% of consumers worry about online scams.
◆72% believe AI-powered frauds are more dangerous than last year.
◆91% have received suspicious messages — fake gift cards, refund alerts, or “limited-time offers.”
◆On average, Indians face 12 scam attempts daily across SMS, social media, and email.
The surge in online transactions has given cybercriminals countless new channels to exploit.
Deepfakes: A New Era of Digital Deception
Cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh highlighted how AI-generated deepfake videos have amplified digital deception.
“Scammers now use celebrity faces to promote fake products or discounts. Even educated consumers are falling for it because these videos look authentic,” he warned.
He added that during Diwali, “emotional manipulation” becomes a key tactic — with phrases like “limited stock” or “refund available” tricking people into clicking malicious links.
Cyber Awareness Becomes India’s Brightest Festive Light
Encouragingly, 98% of Indians say they’ll be more careful this season — preferring trusted websites, using two-factor authentication, and verifying suspicious messages before acting.
Experts believe this growing vigilance reflects India’s maturing digital literacy and awareness.
As Prof. Triveni Singh put it:
“In the digital era, caution is the new security. A few seconds of awareness can save a lifetime of regret.”
In a country celebrating light’s triumph over darkness, digital awareness has become the new Diya — protecting millions of Indians from scams lurking in the shadows of technology.
