A new cash-on-delivery (COD) scam is spreading across India, with fraudsters exploiting trusted courier services to deliver fake parcels and trick unsuspecting households into paying for items they never ordered.
The warning came from digital creator Tvisha Tuli, who shared her experience in a viral Instagram reel that has sparked widespread concern. Tuli said the scam is being carried out through established delivery companies, including Delhivery, Blue Dart, Ecom Express and Shadowfax, making the parcels appear legitimate.
She recalled how her family received a package labelled as face masks under one relative’s name, even though no order had been placed. The parcel was returned. Days later, a similar package arrived addressed to another family member. This time, assuming it was genuine, someone at home paid ₹700 in cash.
“When we opened the package, it wasn’t what was written outside. There was something with Chinese text inside. Even the QR code on the product couldn’t be scanned, and the money was lost,” Tuli said.
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What makes the scam particularly concerning, she explained, is its targeted nature. “These scammers clearly have data on which houses order COD frequently and who lives there. They rotate names, switch delivery partners, and then take the COD money,” she warned.
Tuli stressed that this fraud no longer just targets elderly family members. “Now, not only our grandparents or parents are vulnerable. Even we will feel that if a courier has come from Blue Dart, then it must be legitimate,” she added.
How to stay safe
- Always confirm with family members before paying for a COD order.
- Remind parents and grandparents not to assume authenticity simply because a parcel carries their name.
- Report any suspicious deliveries to the courier company immediately.
With India’s booming e-commerce sector heavily reliant on COD payments, the scam underscores growing challenges in consumer security and the urgent need for tighter checks in delivery systems.
