Overview:
During a high-sales festive period, a premium jewellery brand became the target of a coordinated online scam. Fraudsters created fake Instagram ads and ran WhatsApp broadcasts offering heavy discounts on gold and diamond jewellery.
The ads and messages directed shoppers to a counterfeit e-commerce site designed to mimic the brand’s official store. Customers who placed orders never received their products, while scammers collected payments and personal details for further exploitation.
ThreatWatch360 in Action:
-
Rapid Detection: Identified the scam’s social media accounts, ads, and fake website within 6 hours of going live.
-
Scam Link Analysis: Traced 18 fake profiles/pages and multiple domains to a single organised fraud network.
-
Takedown Support: Coordinated with Instagram, Facebook, and hosting providers to remove fake assets.
-
Financial Disruption: Flagged fraudulent payment gateway merchant IDs, leading to account suspension.
Results:
✅ Scam dismantled in just 3 days.
✅ Prevented further consumer fraud during peak sales.
✅ Preserved the brand’s trust and festive sales momentum.
Shopping Safety Tip:
Always verify online offers through the brand’s official website or verified social media pages. Be cautious of unsolicited WhatsApp or Instagram messages offering “limited-time” deep discounts.
