In Short
- Supreme Court lawyer scammed by Amazon delivery executive.
- He wanted to upgrade from the iPhone 13 to the iPhone 15
- This incident raises concerns over online shopping security. Copy
In a disheartening turn of events, Mukul P Unny, a Supreme Court lawyer, found himself scammed out of Rs 38,000 after ordering an iPhone 15 from Amazon. The incident unfolded when Unny decided to upgrade his iPhone 13 through an exchange offer on Amazon. The order was placed on July 21, 2024, and the delivery executive arrived at his residence the following evening around 9:30 PM.
Unny detailed the troubling experience in a series of tweets, shedding light on the scam. After the delivery executive handed over the new iPhone 15 and Unny provided the required OTP, he handed over his old iPhone 13. Surprisingly, the executive then demanded another OTP, claiming it was necessary for the exchange process. Unny, perplexed, stated he had no additional OTP to provide.
The delivery executive, unable to proceed, contacted his supervisor. The supervisor, Ashok, explained that the exchange process required a different team and requested that Unny return the new iPhone, assuring him it would be reattempted the next day. Despite his reservations, Unny, after much insistence and assurances from Ashok, returned the new phone to the delivery executive, Vishal, while retaining both their contact numbers.
The following day, Unny contacted Amazon’s customer care to report the incident. He was assured that a refund would be initiated if the product was not delivered. However, on July 26, when he followed up, he was told to wait until July 31 as the case was under investigation.
The frustration peaked when, on July 31, Amazon informed Unny that the investigation was complete and a refund could not be processed. No concrete fact-finding seemed to have been conducted, leaving Unny with a significant financial loss. He expressed his disbelief on Twitter, pointing out that the old phone was still in his possession, contradicting any claims that the exchange was completed.
Further complicating matters, Ashok called Unny, proposing that he go to a specific location to hand over his current phone, promising that the new product would be delivered 24 hours later. Sensing a potential scam, Unny declined.
Unny’s ordeal highlights the vulnerabilities customers face, even when using reputed platforms like Amazon. The incident has raised concerns about the reliability of exchange offers and the accountability of delivery personnel. As Unny seeks justice and restitution, his experience serves as a cautionary tale for others to remain vigilant and cautious when engaging in online transactions. The case underscores the need for more stringent measures and transparency in handling such disputes to protect consumers from falling prey to scams.
