Food delivery scams are becoming increasingly common, and even experienced users can fall for them. A recent incident involving a popular food delivery app highlights how easily scammers exploit trust and urgency.
In this case, a customer ordered food through a well-known delivery platform and received the standard in-app message clearly stating that the delivery OTP must be shared only after receiving the order. Shortly after, the customer received a phone call from someone claiming to represent the restaurant. The caller cited a “system issue” and insisted that the OTP was required to hand over the parcel to the delivery executive.
Believing the call to be genuine, the customer shared the OTP. The order was immediately marked as delivered, but the food never arrived. Upon contacting customer support, it was revealed that the assigned delivery executive was not even in the same city. Fortunately, the platform arranged a replacement order, preventing financial loss.
What You Should Do
- Share the delivery OTP only after you receive your order and verify all items.
- Trust in-app instructions over phone calls, messages, or WhatsApp requests.
- Contact app support immediately if something feels off or if an order is marked delivered without arrival.
- Check the app status before acting on any external call or message.
What You Should Never Do
- Never share your OTP over a phone call, even if the caller claims to be from the restaurant or delivery platform.
- Don’t act in haste when someone creates urgency or mentions “system issues.”
- Avoid engaging with unknown numbers regarding your order outside the app.
Useful Advice
Scammers rely on speed, pressure, and familiarity with delivery processes. Always pause, verify details within the app, and remember that neither restaurants nor delivery platforms require OTPs before delivery.
Staying alert and following basic precautions can help prevent such incidents. Sharing these experiences helps build awareness and keeps the community safer.
