How it works and tips to stay safe

In today’s digital age, ordering groceries, household items, clothes and shoes online has become a seamless part of our daily lives. According to an ET report, major e-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart and Swiggy have revolutionized the delivery process with their dedicated fleets, ensuring fast and reliable service. Despite this, many businesses still rely on traditional courier services like India Post, Delhivery, DTDC and BlueDart to fulfill their online orders.

As consumers, we often place multiple orders throughout the day, making it difficult to track the delivery status of each item. We typically rely on the company we ordered from to provide updates on delivery schedules. Unfortunately, this reliance has created an opportunity for fraudsters to take advantage of the unsuspecting by taking advantage of the trust placed in these communications. This new avenue of fraud aims to attack consumer expectations and fears, adding an extra layer of complexity to the seemingly simple process of online shopping.


India Post Delivery Scam: Find Out How It Works

The India Post delivery scam is a sophisticated scheme to defraud regular online shoppers. Here’s how it works:

• First contact: You receive an SMS that appears to be from India Post, saying that your parcel has reached their warehouse but cannot be delivered due to incomplete address information. The message contains a link to update your address within 12 hours.

• Continue the conversation: Usually, the SMS is accompanied by a call from someone claiming to be from India Post. The caller reiterates that the parcel cannot be delivered due to incomplete address and urges the recipient to update the address using the link provided in the SMS.

• Urgency and pressure:The caller creates a sense of urgency by warning you that if you do not update your address immediately, all your orders will be canceled.

• Payment trap: Once you click on the link and update your address, you will be redirected to a page where you will be asked for a nominal payment of Rs 80 or Rs 100 for re-delivery. The site accepts only debit or credit card payments, not UPI or cash on delivery.

Data theftWhen you provide your card details, you unknowingly provide fraudsters with sensitive information such as your card number and CVV code.


India Post Delivery Scams: Official Warnings and Real-World Examples

According to India Post’s response on social media, “India Post does not send such messages asking for updated addresses for delivering articles. Do not click on fake links.”

For example, imagine you have ordered multiple items from an e-commerce site with different delivery dates. In the middle of your busy day, you receive a call that claims to be from India Post about an incomplete address for your orders. In your rush to avoid cancellation, you may follow the instructions and fall into the trap of a scam.


India Post Delivery Scam: Tips to Avoid Falling Victim

• Be careful with unsolicited messages or emails: If you receive unexpected messages or emails regarding shipments, please verify the information independently before taking any action. Please check the e-commerce site or app directly to confirm order status and delivery details.

• Verify the sender email address or website domain: Scammers often use addresses or domains that look similar to legitimate ones, but with slight differences. Make sure the sender is authentic before proceeding.

• Avoid clicking on suspicious links: Hover over links in emails or messages to see the actual URL. If it looks suspicious or unfamiliar, don’t click on it. Always visit the official website through a trusted search engine.

• Verify requests through trusted channels: Independently verify any requests for personal information or payments by contacting the company’s official customer service department. Use official contact details to ensure you are speaking to a legitimate representative.

Expert advice

According to Sheetal R. Bhardwaj, a board member of the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS), “Scammers often create a sense of urgency or fear, making people believe that immediate action is necessary.” She notes that such scams are common around the world and affect people from different countries.

Pradeep Janardanan, Director, FCC Advisory and Investigations, Standard Chartered Bank Global Business Services (GBS), recommends:

• Be skeptical of unsolicited messages:Independent verification of information.
• Check the sender’s details carefully: Check that email and domain addresses are not inconsistent.
• Avoid suspicious links: Use trusted channels to verify the authenticity of requests.
• Verify through trusted channels: Please contact the official customer service directly.

Amit Relan, co-founder and CEO of mFilterIt, a fraud detection company, advises: “Don’t fall into the trap of rushing. Take your time to verify the authenticity of such calls. Don’t click on suspicious links received in unexpected emails or messages. Be skeptical of unrealistic promises.”

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