Tips to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Online Food Delivery Scam: Bengaluru Woman Loses Rs. 25,000
India has experienced a rise in online scams, causing financial harm to numerous innocent individuals. Scams such as YouTube video likes, Telegram tasks, and fraudulent work-from-home job offers have become prevalent. Presently, a fresh scam has emerged, targeting individuals who regularly use food delivery apps.
A recent case in Business Today highlights a painful incident from Bengaluru. Shilpa Sarnobat, a 64-year-old resident of Nagawara, ordered food through the delivery app on August 6. Shortly after placing the order, he decided to cancel it. However, the application imposed a cancellation fee. Sarnobat received a call from an unknown number on August 8. The caller claimed to be a customer service representative from a food delivery app and promised to refund his cancellation fee.
Sarnobat trusted the authenticity of the caller and followed their instructions. He downloaded the app as instructed by the caller and shared his bank details. In no time, ₹25,000 disappeared from his bank account. He realized the fraud and tried to contact the caller but got no response. Finally, he reported the incident to the local police.
You can protect yourself from online scams by following these precautions:
1. Use trusted apps: Install trusted apps to protect yourself from scams like CERT-In’s “Fraud Alert”, NCSAP’s “mSafe” and Google’s “Anti-phishing App”. These apps provide real-time alerts, security advice and protection against phishing attacks.
2. Limit personal information: Be careful when sharing personal information online. Avoid disclosing sensitive information such as phone numbers, email addresses, and bank account information to unknown sources.
3. Ask for unsolicited requests: Be skeptical of emails and messages asking for personal information. Fraudsters often use such tactics to steal sensitive information.
4. Source Verified Apps: Download apps exclusively from trusted sources like official app stores. Avoid downloading from third-party platforms.
5. Maintain software updates: Update your software regularly to benefit from security patches that protect against malware and other threats.
6. Check the claims: Ignore free gifts from strangers. Avoid making online payments without proper source verification.
As the digital landscape evolves, it is important to remain cautious and aware to avoid scams.
