--- title: The OLX UPI con date: "2022-10-02T16:42:15Z" lastmod: "2022-10-11T08:50:49Z" categories: - interesting-experiences wp_id: 3362 description: "Three attempted OLX scams show how UPI fraudsters exploit buyer psychology with fake QR flows, tiny trust-building payments, and aggressive confidence—until experience turns the mark into the interviewer." keywords: ["OLX scam", "UPI fraud", "cybercrime", "QR code scam", "consumer safety", "story"] --- ![The OLX UPI con](/blog/assets/Thief.webp) Before [moving to Singapore](/blog/moving-to-singapore/), we listed our furniture and white goods for sale on [OLX](https://www.olx.in/). ### Caller 1: Vinod buys a bed On 18th April, I got a call from +91 70868 17420. He said he was Vinod, and owned a furniture shop in Ahmedabad. He wanted to buy our bed for Rs 6,000. It was not too bad an offer, so we agreed. **Vinod**: "I will pay by phone, sir. Give me your WhatsApp number." **Me**: (Wow! He's using [WhatsApp Pay](https://www.whatsapp.com/payments/in)? That's a first.) "Sure. It's 9741 552 552." **Vinod**: "I've sent a picture, sir. Please scan that." **Me**: "Uh... OK. I got this QR code on WhatsApp. I scanned it on PayTM. But it's asking **_me_** to transfer to 9713902265.imb@icici. Is that right?" **Vinod**: "Yes sir. Please type 6,000 and send. You will get the amount." He sounded so confident, I thought I had it wrong. **Me**: "But this will pay _you_ Rs 6,000. How will I get Rs 6,000?" **Vinod**: "Sir, it is a business account. I sent you Rs 6,000. But you will get it only if you enter 6,000." **Me**: "Vinod, I don't think payments work that way..." **Vinod**: "Sir, I will show you. I will pay you 1 rupee. You type 1 and send. You will get back 2 rupees." I didn't mind losing a rupee, so I paid his account 1 rupee. **Vinod**: "Sir, now please check your account. You will have 2 rupees." And I did have 2 UPI credits of 1 rupee each from his account. | Date | Transaction Remarks | Withdrawal | Deposit | | ----------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------- | ------- | | 18-Apr-2022 | UPI/210885173447/NA/BHARATPE0990555/Yes Bank Ltd/PTMF7DD556B1DFF42538B3F24D52AFD0A0F/ | 1.00 | | | 18-Apr-2022 | UPI/210868024141/UPI Payment/9713902265.imb@/Axis Bank Ltd./ICId74ef953e7bd4588bbcf226880cd4864 | | 1.00 | | 18-Apr-2022 | UPI/210868024950/UPI Payment/9713902265.imb@/Axis Bank Ltd./ICIb8cafc942184402dafda89620319a9e9 | | 1.00 | **Me**: "Sure, Vinod. You paid me 2 rupees. But when I pay you Rs 6,000, there's no guarantee you'll pay me Rs 12,000. Why don't you come in person, collect the sofa, and pay me then?" **Vinod**: "What sort of man are you? I already sent you money from my account. I cannot get it back now. I will have a loss. You tell me -- how will you give me back my money?" **Me**: (Um... He really does sound convincing.) "Vinod, I'm really not comfortable with this. Let's not go ahead." **Vinod**: "You're an asshole. Get off the line!" ### Caller #2: Gaurav buys a recliner On 15th May, I got a call from Gaurav at +91 84865 47620. **Gaurav**: "Sir, you have a sofa set on OLX for Rs 60,000. Can you give it for a lower amount?" **Me**: "Well, I'm OK with Rs 55,000, but not less." **Gaurav**: "OK sir. I will pay by UPI. Can I make a 50% advance payment, then you can take off the listing from OLX?" **Me**: "OK, sure." **Gaurav**: "What is your UPI account?" **Me**: "9741552552@upi." **Gaurav**: "I have paid Rs 27,500. I have sent you a picture. Can you scan it and enter 27,500?" **Me**: "I got an image that requests a payment to bharatpe09905995207@yesbank.ltd. But that's for ME to transfer to YOU. I have not received your payment." **Gaurav**: "I have already paid the advance sir. If you type 27,500 and send, you will get it." **Me**: "Sorry, Gaurav, I'm not going to do that. Bye." (click) By now, I was a _bit_ wiser. ### Caller #3: Priti buys a recliner On 15th May, I got a call from yet another person. I forget his name. It might have been Priti. **He**: "Sir, I want to buy your recliner. How much is it for?" **Me**: "How will you pay and how much, please?" **He**: "Sir, I will pay on UPI. I can pay up to 55,000, sir. I will transfer the money and send you the confirmation code, sir" I let out a huge laugh, and continued laughing for a good 5 seconds. **He**: "Sir, what happened, sir?" **Me**: "Oh, this is so hilarious. How much money do you make in a month with scams?" **He**: "Sir, what sir?" **Me**: "I'd love to interview you for my blog. Do you change SIM cards often? Do you use channels other than OLX? What do you do in case someone files a cyber-crime complaint?" **He**: (click) ### Cyber-crime reporting This con is [well-documented on OLX](https://help.olx.in/hc/en-us/articles/360010024959-Payment-Link-Scams-UPI-FAQ-s-). I decided to file an online cyber-complaint at [https://cybercrime.gov.in/](https://cybercrime.gov.in/). The process was not too painful. This is what the form asked for. - **Category of complaint** - Online and Social Media Related Crime - **Online Financial Fraud** - Business Email Compromise/Email Takeover - Debit/Credit Card Fraud/Sim Swap Fraud - Demat/Depository Fraud - E-Wallet Related Fraud - Fraud Call/Vishing - Internet Banking Related Fraud - **UPI Fraud** - Hacking / Damage to computer,computer system etc - Online Cyber Trafficking - Online Gambling / Betting - Ransomware - Cryptocurrency Crime - Cyber Terrorism - Any Other Cyber Crime - Have you lost money? Yes/**No** - Approximate date & time of Incident/receiving/viewing of content: **18 Apr 2022** **18:10** - Is there any delay in reporting? **No** - Where did the incident occur? - Email - Facebook - Instagram - Snapchat - Twitter - WhatsApp - Website Url - Youtube - LinkedIn - Telegram - **Other** - Other Media: **OLX** - Supporting Evidence (Upload Media/Image/Pdf): **Uploaded** - Please provide any additional information about the incident: ... My thanks to Vinod, Gaurav, and the third friend. I filed my first police complaint 🙂 How the police responded is another story... --- ## Comments - **Sai** _15 Mar 2023 9:37 am_: Haha. Thanks for sharing this. I went through exactly the same thing when I was relocating to Sgp too quite recently. - **[Pratyush](https://fully-faltoo.com)** _14 Oct 2022 8:04 pm_: Hey, thanks a lot for sharing this. Please also share how the police responded. We too filed a police complained but never saw any action.