Kerala Police Warn of New Mattress Purchase Cyber Fraud Scheme
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Kerala Police have issued a public alert regarding a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme targeting online mattress buyers across the state. Authorities on Thursday warned that fraudsters are impersonating customer care representatives from popular mattress companies to deceive consumers into making unauthorized payments.
The scam operates by contacting individuals who have recently purchased mattresses through online marketplaces. The fraudsters, posing as customer service agents, claim that the victim's payment failed or that there is an issue with order confirmation. They pressure the recipients to rectify the situation immediately to avoid cancellation of the order. To resolve the alleged problem, the scammers direct victims to make urgent payments via QR codes, Unified Payments Interface (UPI), or direct bank transfers.
Police officials stated that the fraudsters utilize stolen or fabricated customer data to make the calls appear legitimate. The callers often have access to the victim's name, order details, and previous purchase history, which adds a layer of credibility to their claims. Victims are instructed to share sensitive financial information or scan dynamic QR codes provided by the caller, leading to immediate deduction of funds from their bank accounts.
The warning comes as online shopping continues to surge in Kerala, with a significant portion of household goods being purchased through digital platforms. Cyber crime cells in the state have observed a spike in complaints related to impersonation scams over the last few weeks. Authorities emphasized that legitimate customer care representatives never ask for payment through personal QR codes or direct bank transfers to resolve order issues.
Police advised consumers to verify any communication regarding order status directly through the official website or app of the retailer. They urged the public to ignore unsolicited calls claiming payment failures and to never share One-Time Passwords (OTPs) or banking credentials with callers. Victims who have already fallen prey to the scheme are advised to report the incident to the nearest police station or the national cyber crime portal immediately.
As of Thursday, police have not released the number of confirmed cases or the total amount of money lost to the scheme. Investigators are currently tracing the origin of the calls and the bank accounts used to receive the fraudulent transfers. The cyber crime wing has also reached out to major e-commerce platforms and mattress retailers to coordinate on preventing the misuse of customer data.
The effectiveness of the scam remains a concern for law enforcement, as the fraudsters are adapting their tactics to bypass standard security measures. Police are monitoring social media and online forums for any new variations of the scheme. Authorities have not yet identified the specific group behind the operation, and no arrests have been made in connection with the warning.