Online shopping scams are not new. There have been numerous incidents reported where people ordered something from online shopping sites and received either an empty box or bizarre items instead of the item they ordered.
In a recent case, a woman who ordered jewellery online received an empty cream box in her delivery box.
The woman named Aishwarya Khajuria shared her shopping scam incident on Instagram. In a video post, Khajuria revealed that she recently ordered a black butterfly bracelet from the online platform Meesho. However, when she received the delivery box, it contained an empty cream box instead. The woman further expressed her embarrassment and hesitancy to even return the box.
Posting the video she wrote in the caption, “Ok Meesho, I see you. I received a parcel. PS: Mujhe sharam arahi hai return karne me, delivery wale bhaiya sochenge ye kya hai” (I feel ashamed to return the box, the delivery man will be left wondering).
Notably, this is not the first time Aishwarya Khajuria has faced a delivery scam. In her video, she revealed that in the past, she had received old sarees and other clothes instead of her actual order. She also mentioned in the video that the box she received was from a used “Ponds” cream, which made her wonder if the person who handled the box before delivery had used the cream.
The video received several responses, many of which found humor in the woman receiving the wrong product. One user wrote, “Bro, I was laughing so much and kept watching it again and again. I don’t know why, but I find your explanation and expressions really funny.”
While the case may seem hilarious, it is also worth noting that delivery scams can result in significant financial losses. For instance, there have been cases where individuals ordered an iPhone online but received bars of soap or stones instead. While in many cases, the online platforms assist with refunds and address the issues, there are instances where problems remain unresolved. Therefore, it is always advisable to exercise caution when engaging in online shopping and take the necessary precautions to mitigate such risks.
How to stay safe from shopping scam
Here are 5 things to follow while shopping online to avoid scam:
- Shop from reputable websites: Shop from well-known and trusted online retailers. Also, read product reviews. Genuine customer feedback can help you decide if the product is right for you.
- Make sure the website has a secure connection. You can check for a secure connection by looking for the padlock symbol in the address bar and ensuring that the website’s URL starts with “https://” instead of “http://”.
- Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. If a deal or offer appears too good to be true, it’s likely a scam. Scammers often lure unsuspecting shoppers with incredibly low prices to trick them into making a purchase.
- Use secure payment methods like UPI, or cards. Do pay through any suspicious link or other modes of payment.
- Report the scam to the website and, if possible, leave a review to warn other shoppers and help them exercise caution while placing orders.