Madurai: Influencer's family has to move out after fake cash-on-delivery orders

An influencer from Madurai in southern India has left his home with his family after a flood of fake cash-on-delivery orders. His wife told the broadcaster CNBC-TV18 that the landlord had asked them to move out. According to Indian media, the trigger was a request for sweets for Diwali, the festival of lights.

Request for a box of sweets

According to the Tamil newspaper Dinakaran, the man posted a video with his mobile number and his address. In it, he asked for a box of sweets for Diwali. The Times of India also reports that he shared his phone number and address publicly.

According to Dinakaran, users then ordered goods in his name that were to be paid for only on delivery. According to the report, delivery workers kept coming for more than four days, day and night. CNBC-TV18 speaks of more than 500 fake cash-on-delivery orders.

Televisions, refrigerators and washing machines

According to the Times of India, couriers from Amazon and Flipkart brought refrigerators, washing machines, smartphones and televisions. One alleged television order was priced at 169,000 rupees, according to the Times of India. The news agency PTI also reported on these deliveries.

According to PTI, screenshots of alleged cash-on-delivery orders for heavy equipment, including JCB excavators and military tanks worth 700 million rupees, also circulated online. The Times of India describes these orders as fabricated. According to India Today, fake posts also claimed orders for a T-90 tank, an ambulance and a missile.

Appeal in videos

According to India Today, the influencer asked in videos for the pranks to stop. Within half an hour, 15 orders had come in, he said, according to the report. He said he had no money. In the videos, he also announced that he would leave the city, according to India Today.

According to PTI, neighbours confirmed that he had moved out after being harassed by delivery personnel. Neighbours also told the Times of India that he had left the home.

His wife told CNBC-TV18 on 14 October that the family had already left the house. She asked that no further cash-on-delivery orders be sent to the address.

Delivery workers lose income

The wasted trips also hit the couriers. Delivery workers told CNBC-TV18 that such runs cut their daily earnings from as much as 1,500 rupees to between 400 and 500 rupees.