Fake OTP delivery scam: Know how to stay safe while shopping online

Online shopping has become increasingly popular, but with that comes the risk of falling prey to scammers. One of the most recent scams is the "fake OTP delivery scam," where fraudsters impersonate delivery agents from popular e-commerce sites like Amazon and Flipkart.

Here's what you need to know to avoid being a victim of this type of online scam:

To prevent online delivery frauds, e-commerce sites started using the One Time Password (OTP) delivery verification process. In this process, customers are asked to share the OTP received on their phone with the delivery agents to confirm the receipt of the package.

However, scammers are now using this process to steal money from unsuspecting customers.

Scammers will pretend to be delivery agents and ask for OTP before delivering the package. Once they receive the OTP, they clone the phone or hack it to gain access to the victim's sensitive information like bank account details and steal the money.

To avoid becoming a victim of this scam, it's essential never to share OTP with anyone. Always verify the identity of the person asking for any PIN, and never click on untrusted links or give personal information to websites.

Always open the delivery parcel or read the brief description of the parcel box before giving money and confirming delivery, also never accept suspicious deliveries.

Keeping track of your parcel and making your family members aware of the situation can also help.

Finally, making online payments for your purchases can help avoid the cash-on-delivery process that scammers use.

Remember that scammers are always looking for new ways to target people.

Staying vigilant and making your loved ones aware of possible scams is the best way to protect yourself and your finances.