Prayagraj: As crores of devotees participate in the Mahakumbh 2025 Mela, cybercriminals are exploiting the enthusiasm surrounding the world’s largest religious congregation. Security experts at Kaspersky identified fraudulent online stores attempting to deceive devotees by selling fake religious merchandise and scamming them out of their money.
Fake Stores Selling Maha Kumbh Memorabilia
Kaspersky researchers spotted scam websites offering Mahakumbh-themed items such as packaged holy water from the Ganges, sacred ashes, and Himalayan Rudraksha beads. These fraudulent platforms accept payments but fail to deliver the promised products, leaving buyers empty-handed.
Jaydeep Singh, General Manager for India at Kaspersky, says, “The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela is considered especially auspicious, as it coincides with a rare alignment of constellations, making it the most significant in the last 144 years. It is no surprise that devotees from around the world would like to participate and buy keepsakes of it. At the same time, cybercriminals are up-to-date with the main events and trends around the world, and they sure know how to lure consumers and exploit their interest and devotion towards this grand religious gathering.”
Rising Threats During High-Interest Events
Cybercriminals often take advantage of major global events to launch scams. The Mahakumbh Mela, which draws several pilgrims and international delegations, has become a lucrative target for fraudsters operating fake online stores.
“While emotions can be running high, consumers should take time to verify the stores they are visiting and purchasing items from. A little bit of skepticism towards independent online stores would be beneficial to protect your identity and your money against clever cybercriminals,” Singh added.
How to Stay Safe from Mahakumbh Online Scams
To help consumers avoid falling victim to these scams, the following steps have been recommended:
- Verify website authenticity: Always check URLs, domain names, and customer reviews before making online purchases.
- Be wary of unsolicited offers: Avoid pop-ups, ads, or phishing emails that redirect users to unknown websites.
- Avoid sharing personal information: Only provide sensitive details on secure and verified platforms.
- Use comprehensive security solutions: Install reliable cybersecurity software to block phishing sites and prevent malware infections.
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