We often read about people getting duped by fake sellers on e-commerce platforms where they get bricks or soaps instead of phones or other gadgets, but this time it was Amazon India that ended up getting scammed for Rs 20 lakh. This incident took place in Bengaluru where a by a 22-year-old student bought iPhones worth lakhs, faked returns and even managed to receive the refunds.
Amazon iPhone scam: here’s what happened
- Amazon, along with the Bengaluru police, arrested Chirag Gupta, an engineering student living in north Bengaluru for carrying out this scam, according to a report by Indian Express.
- The investigation revealed that Gupta had purchased an iPhone 14 Pro Max worth Rs 1.27 lakh on May 15th, an iPhone 14 worth Rs 84,900 on May 16th, and two iPhone 14 models worth Rs 90,999 and Rs 84,999 on May 17. These iPhones were purchased using credit card and UPI, the report added.
- After purchasing these items, Gupta would return them, and manipulate Amazon’s backend system to show that the products have been returned. With the systems updated, Amazon would also issue refunds for all the products.
- Following a suspicion by Amazon on noticing a pattern with Gupta’s purchasing habits, the e-commerce platform found that the products weren’t returned.
- The above mentioned iPhones were purchased from the same address, and “returned”, but the said products never made it back to inventory.
The main culprit behind the scam actually turned out to be Gupta’s friend who is a former Amazon employee. It was also revealed that Gupta along with his friend would sell the products with transactions in crypto. As part of this deal, Gupta would receive commission from the profits earned through the sale. In addition to uncovering the scam, the police also found gadgets including iPhones and MacBooks worth Rs 20.34 lakh. These gadgets have been seized along with Rs 30 lakh in bank accounts that have been frozen.
