Rs 98,000 curd: Bengaluru woman orders curd on blinkit, receives damaged packet, calls customer care number found online and loses Rs 98,000

A 56-year-old homemaker in Bengaluru allegedly lost Rs 98,000 to cyber fraud after ordering a packet of curd on Blinkit, receiving it in a damaged condition and searching online for a customer care number to claim a refund.

The woman, identified as Soundarya in the complaint, was allegedly tricked by people posing as customer care representatives. After she followed their instructions, including uploading a photograph of the damaged packet through a WhatsApp link, Rs 98,000 was debited from her bank account. Central Cyber Crime police have registered a case and are investigating.

How a damaged curd packet led to a Rs 98,000 loss

According to the complaint reported by TOI, Soundarya lives in an apartment on Palace Cross Road in Vasanth Nagar, Bengaluru. She ordered the curd on October 17.


When the packet arrived damaged, she complained to the delivery agent. The agent advised her to contact customer care to resolve the issue.

Soundarya then searched online for a customer care number and called one she found on the internet. The person who answered allegedly assured her that a refund would be processed and asked her to follow a series of steps.

The caller subsequently sent her a link on WhatsApp and instructed her to upload a photograph of the damaged curd packet.

After she submitted the photograph, another person contacted her, claiming to help process the refund. The caller asked her to open her digital payment account and check the balance.

When Soundarya entered her password, the application suddenly disappeared from the screen. She soon discovered that Rs 98,000 had been debited from her bank account.

Realising she had been cheated, she approached the police. Central Cyber Crime police have registered a case and are investigating the incident.

Why people searching for customer care can fall into this trap

When a product arrives damaged or an online order goes wrong, many customers turn to a search engine to find a customer care number. They may call the first number that appears, assuming it belongs to the company, particularly when they want a quick refund.

Fraudsters can exploit this urgency by posing as customer support agents and offering to resolve the complaint. They may move the conversation to WhatsApp, send links or guide customers through steps described as necessary for processing a refund.

The risk is not limited to quick-commerce orders. The same approach can be used in scams involving shopping deliveries, ticket bookings, banking complaints and other online services.

A customer seeking a refund should be especially cautious if someone asks them to open a payment application, disclose a password or PIN, share an OTP, install an unfamiliar application or follow an unverified link. A caller's claim to represent a familiar brand is not proof of their identity.

How to contact Blinkit safely for a refund

If a Blinkit order arrives damaged, use the support options available inside the official Blinkit app rather than searching online for a customer care number.

• Open the official app: Go to your order history and select the affected order. Look for the available help or support option.
• Report the damaged product: Explain the problem through the app's official complaint process and upload a photograph if requested within that process.
• Avoid unverified numbers: Do not assume a number appearing in search results, a social media post or a third-party website belongs to Blinkit.
• Do not follow unsolicited links: If someone claiming to be customer support contacts you on WhatsApp, verify the communication through the official app before taking any action.
• Never share sensitive credentials: A refund request should not require you to disclose your banking password, UPI PIN or OTP to a caller.

Keep the order details, photographs, complaint reference and any messages exchanged with the purported support representative. These records may help when reporting a suspected scam.

What to do if money is debited from your account

If you discover an unauthorised transaction, act immediately rather than continuing the conversation with the suspected fraudster.

1. Call 1930 to report cyber financial fraud. India's national cybercrime helpline accepts reports of financial cyber fraud. Prompt reporting can help authorities and participating financial institutions take steps to trace or potentially hold the transferred funds, although recovery is not guaranteed.

2. File a complaint online. Report the incident through the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. Keep the acknowledgement or complaint reference number for follow-up.

3. Contact your bank or payment provider. Use the official number listed on your bank's website, card or banking application. Report the unauthorised debit, request that further suspicious transactions be blocked and ask the bank to register a dispute.

4. Secure your accounts. If you entered credentials into a suspicious page or application, contact the relevant bank or payment provider immediately. Change compromised passwords through official channels, review recent transactions and revoke suspicious access where possible.

5. Preserve evidence. Save transaction messages, bank statements, phone numbers, WhatsApp conversations, links and screenshots. Do not delete the evidence before reporting the incident.

Do not pay anyone who promises to recover the money for an upfront fee. Recovery offers from people contacting you unexpectedly can themselves be fraudulent.

Inputs from TOI