According to the city cybercrime police, the victim had placed an order worth ₹3,000 on April 28 through a suspicious website. He paid the amount online. About an hour later, he received a phone call from a person claiming the product was ready for delivery. The caller asked him to pay an additional ₹2,999 as a delivery charge, assuring that the amount would be refunded after delivery.
Believing the caller, the victim made the payment. Soon after, another person contacted him, claiming that the refund was stuck with different merchant banks and demanded more payments. The victim continued transferring money over the following days, ultimately losing ₹4,26,464.
The victim later discovered that the website was fake and the delivery tracking number provided was also bogus. Realising he had been cheated, he approached the city’s cybercrime unit and filed a complaint.
City Cyber Crimes ACP R.G. Siva Maruthi confirmed the incident and said an investigation is underway. Authorities have urged the public to verify websites before making online purchases and to be cautious of unsolicited payment requests.
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Cybercrime in India
