Newlyweds Fall Victim to Fake Courier Scam: A Cautionary Tale for Couples
A newlywed couple in Pune became victims of a sophisticated online fraud that cost them ₹1.6 lakh, underscoring the rising threat of social engineering and phishing schemes in personal transactions. The incident unfolded shortly after the couple tied the knot when the groom received a fake text message purportedly from a courier service regarding the delivery of wedding gifts.
The scam began soon after their wedding. The groom, a Pune resident, received a message claiming that a wedding gift had been shipped and required address confirmation. The message included a link that redirected him to a counterfeit website designed to mimic a reputable courier company.
After entering his personal details and payment information on the site to “confirm delivery,” ₹1.6 lakh was drained from his bank account through multiple transactions. The fraud came to light when he received debit notifications but no confirmation of any parcel delivery.
Deceptive Courier Site Imitates Real Platform
Cybercrime investigators revealed that the fraudulent website used a domain name strikingly similar to that of a legitimate courier service. The interface was convincingly designed, featuring authentic branding elements and a payment gateway page that did not raise any immediate suspicions.
“The scammers timed their message perfectly to coincide with the wedding, taking advantage of emotional and logistical distractions,” stated a Pune cyber cell official. “We are tracing the IP addresses and suspect the involvement of an organized phishing ring.”
The couple has filed an official complaint with the Pune Police Cyber Crime Cell, and an FIR has been registered under the IT Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code related to cheating and identity theft.
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