A newlywed couple in Pune fell victim to a sophisticated online fraud that cost them ₹1.6 lakh, highlighting the growing menace of social engineering and phishing schemes in personal transactions. The incident unfolded after the groom received a fake text message supposedly from a courier service regarding the delivery of wedding gifts.
The scam began shortly after the couple tied the knot. The groom, a resident of Pune, received a message claiming that a wedding gift had been shipped and needed address confirmation. The message contained a link, redirecting him to a fake website designed to mirror a reputed courier company.
After entering his personal details and payment credentials on the site to “confirm delivery,” ₹1.6 lakh was siphoned off from his bank account in multiple transactions. The matter came to light when he received debit notifications but no confirmation of any parcel.
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Cybercrime investigators revealed that the fraudulent website used a domain name strikingly similar to a legitimate courier service. The interface was convincingly designed, featuring authentic branding elements and a payment gateway page that did not raise any immediate red flags.
“The scammers timed their message perfectly to coincide with the wedding, taking advantage of emotional and logistical distractions,” a Pune cyber cell official said. “We are tracing the IP addresses and suspect the involvement of an organized phishing ring.”
The couple has filed an official complaint at the Pune Police Cyber Crime Cell, and an FIR has been registered under the IT Act and Indian Penal Code sections relating to cheating and identity theft.
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Authorities have issued fresh advisories urging citizens to avoid clicking on unsolicited links, especially those requesting personal or financial information under the guise of gift delivery, wedding greetings, or verification requests.
Increased incidents of online matrimonial fraud and phishing using logistics platforms have prompted cyber experts to call for stronger safeguards by telecom and banking regulators.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.