New Wave Of Scams Sweeps Across Kerala: Victims Duped Through Fake Orders & QR Code Traps

A new type of scam is rapidly gaining ground across Kerala, leaving unsuspecting citizens frustrated, cheated, and in some cases, financially devastated.

Criminals are now impersonating reputable brands and delivery platforms, sending fraudulent messages and making follow-up calls to convince people that they’ve mistakenly placed an order, often for bizarre or inappropriate items.

In one recent case from Kozhikode, a man received a message claiming he had ordered a dozen women’s undergarments priced at ₹396. The scammers also attached a direct link for online payment.

Shocked and confused, the man, who clearly had not placed any such order, was contacted by someone posing as a delivery agent.

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The scammer sent him a direct link to what appeared to be a well-known delivery app called Ajio, which included fake order details to make the situation seem legitimate. However, upon checking his app, there was no trace of the order.

 “Victims believe it’s a mistake and pay out of embarrassment or curiosity—often without realising that scanning QR codes or links sent via SMS could allow scammers to access their bank accounts,” a cybersecurity expert told Timeline.

In many of these cases, scammers make use of spoofed numbers and create fake invoices or websites that look nearly identical to real e-commerce platforms.

The moment the victim scans the QR code, often under the guise of confirming delivery or payment, their financial data is compromised. Some victims report losing thousands of rupees from their bank accounts shortly after these interactions.

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Another victim, a college student from Kochi, reported receiving an unexpected parcel containing what was described as a “premium hair oil” from a brand she had never heard of.

She paid ₹699 in cash on delivery, only to find the bottle was filled mostly with water and a few drops of oil. She tried to contact the number provided on the packaging but received no response.

What makes these scams especially dangerous is their evolving sophistication. The scammers now often use social engineering tactics, including creating urgency or confusion about mistaken orders, to manipulate victims into quickly paying or scanning malicious codes.

Tips to stay safe:

• Do not scan QR codes sent via SMS or WhatsApp from unknown sources.

• Always verify any order directly through your shopping app or website.

• Avoid making COD payments for unexpected or unverified parcels.

• Report suspicious numbers and delivery attempts to the cybercrime helpline: 1930 and you can report such incidents directly by visiting the official cybercrime portal of India at https://cybercrime.gov.in and filing a complaint online.