Online shopping delivery box scam: What is it, how these boxes can empty your bank account, tips to stay protected

Delivery box scam

Online shopping is common these days and Amazon and Flipkart are two of the most widely used e-commerce platforms in India. However, when you order things from these online shopping portals, you receive them in a nicely packed box. You unbox it, keep the product and then throw away the box. This is where the problem may come and your chances of getting trapped into the Delivery Box scam increase.

Wondering how? Let us explain.

Delivery Box scam: What is it and how it works
Delivery Box – if you have one around – look at the top of it, the label that Amazon or Flipkart has added on the top of it for delivering your product and pay attention to all the details that are mentioned on that paper. It’s not merely a box, its data hub for scammers.

You’ll notice these details:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Item details (in some cases) and so on.

As you can see, there’s a lot of data that’s there about you on the box along with details of your order. So, scammers use them to lure you into their trap and you end up losing money.

Here’s how the entire process looks like step-wise:
1. You bought something from Amazon or Flipkart
2. The product gets delivered
3. You kept the product and threw away the box
4. Scammers then procure the box that has your data on top of it
5. Then they use those details to call you and ask for the product feedback
6. Scammers say you’ll have to complete the feedback to avail an additional 10% or more discount on your next order.
7. You receive a link, you click on it, and this is where you are trapped. That link has hidden malware that enters your device and steals your sensitive information, including banking details.

That’s it! You have been scammed.

How to stay protected
First, never throw your delivery boxes without scratching or scrubbing your details from that paper – use a knife or permanent market to scratch them. Or you can use some tools like Identity Protection Roller Stamp ID to hide your data from the box.

Second, never fall prey for such discounts or click on links shared by people who you don’t know.