New online shopping scam operating from Surat, Gujarat gets exposed: 'Full-blown scam industry running out of there'

In our increasingly digital world, new scams are constantly emerging. The most recent threat is an online shopping scam that could potentially impact many unsuspecting buyers, leading people to share their experiences of fraud online¡ªmost of which interestingly trace back to Surat in Gujarat.

Anurag Minus Verma, a writer, filmmaker, and podcast host, recently shared his experience with an online shopping scam on X.

So, there¡¯s a new online shopping scam on the rise. Read on to save yourself from it?

One of my relatives recently ordered clothes from a website called ¡°Ethno Trend.¡± She spent ?3,000, for outfits. The package arrived via DTDC courier. But, clothes were completely different¡­ pic.twitter.com/WhejaHHrPs

¡ª Anurag Minus Verma (@confusedvichar) October 16, 2024

He recounted how a relative ordered clothes from a website called "Ethno Trend," spending Rs 3,000 on what she thought would be stylish outfits.

However, when the package arrived via DTDC courier, it contained completely different clothes of such poor quality that they likely cost no more than Rs 100.

To make matters worse, the website had no phone number¡ªonly a single email address that went unanswered.

Determined to investigate, Verma decided to place a dummy order, knowing the scammer's practice of calling to confirm purchases.

Eventually, a woman called him, but when he mentioned the previous order, she simply laughed.

When he threatened to report the scam to the police, she yawned and casually replied in a heavy Gujarati accent, "Haan haan. Accha hai. Chalo fir bye."

After some digging, Verma discovered that hundreds of similar fake online shopping sites were operating the same scam, with countless complaints from victims.

These sites lure customers with attractive offers, collect cash through DTDC, and avoid direct payment options to evade detection.

Verma pointed out, "DTDC should technically hold some responsibility for handing over your money to scammers, but they're just not."

After sharing his experience, Verma shared that he was flooded with messages from others who had faced similar scams across various websites.

So I received a flood of messages from people sharing similar experiences across various websites. And you know what's the common thread? All of them are based in Surat. Looks like there¡¯s a full-blown scam industry running out of there. Abhi aadha kaam public ne kar diya baaki¡­ https://t.co/UOHAsiLKVy

¡ª Anurag Minus Verma (@confusedvichar) October 16, 2024

A common thread emerged: many of these scams were traced back to Surat. "Looks like there's a full-blown scam industry running out of there," he noted.

In October, a scam operating out of Surat had made headlines when police arrested six individuals and uncovered an extensive operation. The accused revealed that their racket was generating monthly profits of Rs 5 to Rs 7 lakh by enticing consumers with heavily discounted kitchen and household products that were never delivered.

Authorities estimate that the scammers amassed Rs 20 crore over their 18-month fraudulent enterprise.

Now, Verma's account, along with others' experiences, suggests that Surat is not just a hub for kitchen and household item scams but a breeding ground for various online shopping frauds.

As the festival season arrives, Indian shoppers are gearing up to make plenty of purchases. It's crucial for them to stay vigilant about where they are ordering from and to ensure that the websites they're using are legitimate and trustworthy.

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