Suspected COD Delivery Fraud Targeting Residents

Subject: Alert – Suspected COD Delivery Fraud Targeting Residents Hi Everyone, There appears to be a new modus operandi of delivery-related fraud, which seems to be affecting multiple people, including residents in our society. I would like to bring this to everyone's attention for awareness and necessary investigation. The modus operandi: A call is received from a delivery agent claiming that there is a Cash on Delivery (COD) parcel addressed to us. Two scenarios have been reported: Scenario 1 – Payment made and parcel collected: The recipient has not placed any order but, upon checking the package, finds that the name, address and mobile number mentioned are all correct. The delivery agent displays a QR code and requests payment to complete the COD delivery. Upon opening the package, the recipient discovers junk or worthless material. When questioned, the delivery agent disclaims responsibility and asks the recipient to cancel the order. Interestingly, the package carries no identifiable sender name or address, making it difficult to trace the origin or recover the money. Scenario 2 – Delivery refused, but cancellation OTP demanded: In my case, I received such a call yesterday and immediately declined the delivery, as I had not ordered anything. The delivery agent claimed he had no information about the sender but insisted that I share a cancellation OTP. Despite repeatedly refusing, he continued sending OTPs and calling me to obtain the same. Suspecting a possible attempt to misuse the OTP, I refused to share it and eventually blocked the calls. Concerns and suggested action: This appears to be a coordinated attempt to exploit COD deliveries using genuine recipient details, potentially obtained through compromised or misused customer databases. I would recommend that we: Alert all residents to be extremely cautious about unsolicited COD deliveries. Never make payments for parcels that have not been ordered or verified. Never share any OTP received on the phone with a delivery agent, particularly when refusing an unsolicited delivery. Record and report such incidents, including delivery agency details, tracking IDs, phone numbers and payment information, wherever available. Take up the matter with the concerned delivery platforms and appropriate cybercrime authorities for further investigation. Sharing this so that we can collectively stay alert and prevent other residents from falling victim to this possible fraud. Please treat this as a precautionary alert and circulate it among residents. Regards, RP