Introduction
Let me paint you a familiar picture: You're scrolling through Instagram when an ad screams, "Lifetime Canva Pro for ₹99!" Your designer heart skips a beat. Finally, affordable access to premium templates and magic resizing! You tap "Buy Now," pay via UPI, and...
You've just funded an underground scam network.
Hi, I'm Ashish, founder of DroidDev Solutions. For 3 years, I've watched thousands of Indians get robbed by "cheap Canva Pro" rackets. Today, I'm exposing this Rs 200-crore deception crushing our creative community.
Why You're Seeing These "Deals" Everywhere
(Hint: It's Not a Coincidence)
Scammers are exploiting two things:
- Our love for a bargain (Who wouldn't want ₹499/month features for ₹69?)
- Canva's team feature loophole
Here’s how it works:
Scammers create fake "educational teams" on Canva
They add you as a "student" to grant temporary Pro access
Canva detects the fraud → BANS YOUR ACCOUNT → You lose ALL designs
They vanish with your money
Worst part? 92% of victims never recover their work.
The 5-Second Scam Test
If the offer has ANY of these, RUN:
🔴 "Lifetime access" (Canva doesn’t offer this)
🔴 Prices below ₹450/month
🔴 Payment via Telegram/WhatsApp
🔴 No official invoice
Real Victims, Real Stories
- Priya, 28, Freelancer (Lost ₹7,000+ Designs):
*"I bought a ‘₹199/year’ deal. Worked for 2 weeks. Woke up to an ‘account terminated’ email. Client projects... gone."* - Raj, Startup Founder (Scammed of ₹50k):
"We paid for 10 ‘Pro accounts’ for our team. After 3 days, access revoked. The seller’s website disappeared."
Google’s Silent Alarm Bells
When I analyzed search data, the truth screamed at me:
Searches for "free Canva Pro" surged 900% YoY
"Canva Pro subscription charges" is now a top query
Yet "Canva scam" barely registers
Scammers are winning the SEO game while stealing your work.
The Irony No One Tells You
Most "discounted" Pro accounts cost scammers ₹0. They’re exploiting Canva’s free education program while charging YOU.
How to Actually Get Canva Pro Safely
✅ Only use Canva’s official site
✅ Student? Get FREE Pro via Canva Education
✅ Need teams? Use Canva for Teams (legit multi-user plans)
Your 3-Step Armor Against Scammers
Reverse-image search "testimonials" (they’re usually stolen)
Check ScamAdviser before buying (e.g., digidahiya.com scores suspiciously high despite red flags)
Enable 2FA on your Canva account
The Shocking Future of This Scam
New variants are emerging:
"Canva Pro tokens" (NFT scams)
Fake "Canva partnership certificates"
Browser extensions that steal logins
Unless we act, these frauds will keep evolving.
What You Can Do Today
Share this article with every designer/creator you know
Report scam offers to cybercrime.gov.in
Final Thought
That ₹99 "deal" isn’t a discount—it’s a trapdoor. Your designs are worth far more. Protect them.
Stay savvy,
Ashish Gupta
Founder, DroidDev Solutions
(Because your creativity shouldn’t fund criminals)