Lucknow: A case of alleged online fraud has come to light in Lucknow in which a man claims he was cheated of ₹41,990 while trying to send two parcels to the United States and that goods worth around ₹2 lakh also went missing. Shivam Tiwari, a resident of Arjunganj, has alleged that a logistics company and people associated with it collected the payment, took away the parcels and later failed to provide genuine delivery details. He has filed a complaint with the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and also submitted an online FIR.
According to Tiwari, he searched online on August 4 for a logistics service to send household and personal belongings to his brother-in-law in the US. During the search, he came across a company identified as ‘Fedexfly Logistics International Packers Movers (OPC)’. He contacted a person identified as Vivek Shukla through a mobile number listed on Google Business.
Deal finalised for ₹41,990
Tiwari alleged that the cost of sending the two parcels to the US was fixed at ₹41,990. On August 4, Vivek Shukla allegedly sent Vinay Shukla and another person to Tiwari’s residence to collect the parcels.
The two packages contained household and personal-use items, with an estimated combined value of around ₹2 lakh. Their total weight was approximately 40 kg.
The complainant alleged that on August 5, he was asked to make a payment of ₹41,990 through UPI in the name of Sonu, son of Maman Ram. He said the payment was made after being assured that the parcels would be safely delivered to the US.
After the parcels were collected, Tiwari allegedly began asking for tracking details. However, according to his complaint, he was not provided with a valid tracking number or reliable information about the shipment.
Alleged fake tracking IDs provided
Tiwari has alleged that after repeatedly seeking information about his parcels, he was provided with two tracking IDs. However, he claimed that neither tracking ID generated genuine shipment information or confirmed the location of the packages.
The complainant said that even by August 21, the parcels had not reached the US and there was no reliable confirmation of their delivery or movement.
When he contacted the people associated with the alleged logistics service, they reportedly demanded ₹5,200 as an airport holding charge. Tiwari has further alleged that additional payments were sought later.
The repeated demands, coupled with the absence of verifiable tracking information, led him to suspect that he had become a victim of an online fraud.
Both money and parcels under question
The complaint raises questions over both the payment made by Tiwari and the whereabouts of the two parcels. Investigators will need to establish whether the packages were actually entered into a legitimate courier network or were taken elsewhere after being collected from his residence.
The financial trail is also expected to be important. Investigators may examine the UPI transaction, the account or payment identifier that received ₹41,990 and the relationship, if any, between the recipient and the logistics company.
The mobile numbers used to communicate with Tiwari, the alleged tracking IDs and the identity of the people who collected the parcels could also form part of the investigation.
Cybercrime expert stresses verification
Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said that digital payment trails and communication records are crucial in cases involving alleged online logistics fraud. He said customers should independently verify a company’s registration, physical office, official website, courier partnerships and tracking system before making payments.
He also cautioned that any demand for additional charges after a parcel has been collected should be independently verified before another payment is made.
Complaint filed with cybercrime portal
After failing to obtain clear information about the parcels and the payment, Tiwari approached the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and also filed an online FIR.
The investigation is expected to examine the complete payment trail, phone numbers, alleged tracking IDs, digital communications and the role of the people who collected the parcels. Investigators may also verify whether the company and the individuals involved were genuinely connected with international courier operations.
If the allegations are substantiated, the investigation could help establish how the money was collected, what happened to the two parcels and whether other people were involved. For now, the allegations remain subject to investigation, and further action will depend on the evidence collected by the authorities.
