In the latest twist on online deception, cyber fraudsters are exploiting social media to entice users with promises of “free iPhones.” Hyderabad’s Cyber Crime Police issued an advisory on Wednesday after multiple complaints surfaced about scammers posing as representatives of a Dubai-based electronics retailer, Zamzam Electronics, to defraud unsuspecting citizens.
“The fraudsters introduce themselves as representatives of the store and inform the gullible person that they have won an iPhone,” said an official from the cybercrime unit. “On the pretext of sending the prize, they ask the person to deposit a few thousand rupees as customs duty or tax — and then disappear.”
Investigators say the scammers are using fake accounts on Facebook and Instagram, complete with logos, product photos, and fabricated testimonials to mimic legitimate businesses.
The Anatomy of the Scam
The ruse begins with a message or comment congratulating a user on “winning” a free iPhone giveaway. Once the victim responds, the fraudster claims a token payment is needed to “release” the product from customs or international shipping. The victims are then directed to send money through UPI or digital wallets — often in small increments of ₹2,000–₹5,000 — which quickly adds up across dozens of targets.
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Authorities believe that such scams are part of a larger cross-border network operating from Southeast Asia and the Middle East, using social platforms to harvest data and launder small-scale payments through mule accounts.
Police Sound the Alarm
Hyderabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand warned that the scams are evolving, with some fraudsters even collaborating with local banking intermediaries to mask transactions. “Certain bankers have been found complicit, enabling fraudulent transfers to pass unchecked,” Anand said.
While no formal FIRs have yet been registered in Hyderabad, police confirmed that similar cases have surfaced in other Indian states, where victims were duped of thousands of rupees.
Cybercrime officers have urged users not to click on suspicious links, share personal details, or make any advance payments for “gift” items. “No legitimate company will ever ask for money to deliver a prize,” an officer said.
A Growing Web of Online Deceit
Police officials note that the “free iPhone” bait is only the latest iteration of social-media frauds that have mushroomed across India — from fake investment ads to phishing offers disguised as online giveaways. Experts say the pattern reflects a broader trend of “micro frauds,” where smaller but frequent scams generate massive aggregate profits with minimal detection risk.
Authorities are working with Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to track the fraudulent accounts and suspend suspicious pages mimicking Zamzam Electronics and similar entities.
“The public must understand: if it sounds too generous to be true, it’s almost certainly a scam,” the Hyderabad Cyber Crime unit said in its official statement.
