This Mumbai Doctor Was Scammed Out Of Rs 1 Lakh After She Ordered A Lipstick Online

A Mumbai resident woman found herself parting with Rs 1 lakh when she fell victim to a courier delivery scam after ordering a lipstick online. Yes, as peculiar as it sounds, the modus operandi of this scam is quite simple. Scammers get in touch with you, pretending to be delivery agents, and generally present an issue with the delivery not being possible or ask the victims for a small cancellation fee like Rs 2 or Rs 5 for a package they never ordered. Once the victims send them money through a malicious link sent by the scammers, they incur huge losses.

Also Read: 2023’s Top Online Scams – Here’s The Truth Behind SIM Swap Fraud, Fake Job Offers & More

According to a TOI report, the woman, who is a Mumbai-based doctor, ordered a lipstick worth Rs 300 from an e-commerce website, but the package never arrived. She received a text from the courier delivery agent one day saying that her package had been delivered, but she never received it.

After she got in touch with them, she was assured that it would be delivered once she made a payment of Rs 2. Without giving it any thought, the woman went on to pay the scammers through the link they sent. And, this involved downloading an app through the link first.

While making the payment, she unknowingly revealed her banking details to the scammers, and this is how they were able to siphon off Rs 1 lakh in two different transactions amounting to Rs 95,000 and Rs 5,000. Now, a complaint has been registered at the cyber police station in Nerul.

Also Read: Want Whiskey Delivered In Minutes? Beware, Scammers Use This Trick To Fool You

How to Be Safe From This Scam

More often than not, victims, while looking for support numbers, search for them on search engines, but you must not trust these numbers outright, and you must always verify before conversing. Secondly, you must never click on foreign links you receive from unknown contacts, as they could inadvertently install a malicious app on your phone. And yes, you must never share any OTPs or sensitive banking information with anyone over the phone or in person.

Also, if someone gets in touch about the cancellation of a package you don’t remember ordering, be sure to cut the call immediately and report them, as they are likely out to scam you. Moreover, no genuine courier delivery would ask for a ‘cancellation fee,’ so be mindful of these things.