COD scam alert: Influencer Tvisha Tuli exposes fake COD parcel fraud spreading across India

Scammers are using well-known courier companies like Delhivery, Blue Dart, Ecom Express, and Shadowfax to deliver parcels, creating a false sense of legitimacy.

The scheme typically goes like this — a parcel arrives under the name of someone in the household who did not order it. That parcel is returned. A few days later, another package shows up under a different name in the same house. Someone assumes the order must be valid and pays the COD amount.

On opening, the contents are often fake or not what was listed . Sometimes, labels, QR codes or product descriptions turn out to be misleading or entirely bogus. The money paid is lost.

Why is this particularly dangerous?

These fraudsters seem to have inside knowledge about which households often choose COD, and possibly even who lives in them. Names are changed; courier partners are switched to evade recognition.

The familiarity of courier brand names gives victims a false sense of security. People tend to trust parcels from known services, believing that makes them safe.

Even tech-savvy people or younger generations are at risk — it’s not just older, less internet-literate people. Everyone can be caught off guard.

How to protect yourself and your family

Here are steps Tuli recommends to avoid being duped:

Always confirm what you ordered: If there’s any confusion or if the order wasn’t placed by anyone in the household, don’t accept it immediately.

Talk to older family members: Parents or grandparents may accept a shipment just because a familiar courier name or their name is on it. Encourage them to double-check.

Inspect labels carefully: If QR codes don’t work, packaging seems odd, or the product description doesn’t match what’s inside — be cautious.

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Report suspicious deliveries: If you suspect fraud, inform the courier company immediately. Most reliable couriers do not want to be misused this way.

Resist pressure to pay COD blindly: Just because someone knocks with a delivery doesn’t mean you must pay — demand proof of order, reference, or invoice if necessary.

Tuli also notes that these big courier services are not complicit in the scam. The fraudsters are simply exploiting their networks because people tend to trust parcel deliveries when they come through these familiar names.

As online shopping continues to grow, so do the novel ways fraudsters find to exploit trust. This COD scam is a reminder to stay alert — check before you pay, ask questions, and don’t assume safety just from a courier label or familiar name. A few moments of caution can save you from losing hard-earned money.