In a now-viral video, food influencer Nikhil Chawla shares a harrowing experience of how his elderly father became the victim of an online fraud perpetrated by individuals posing as representatives of Swiggy.
Nikhil recounts how his father, aged 65, ordered breakfast from Swiggy while he was away in Kuala Lumpur. When the order failed to arrive, his father attempted to contact Swiggy’s call center. Unfortunately, he fell prey to a fraudulent number masquerading as Swiggy’s helpline.
The scammers, through a UPI scam, managed to deceive Nikhil’s father into transferring ₹35,000. Subsequently, they gained access to his credit card and bank details, resulting in a loss of 2.5-3 lakh rupees. Nikhil emphasizes the importance of caution, especially for older individuals who may not be as tech-savvy.
In response to the incident, Swiggy clarified that they do not have an official customer care number and advised using the in-app chat support for assistance. Additionally, they urged reporting such matters to cybercrime authorities.
Following Nikhil’s video, Swiggy took action to remove the fraudulent site and provided warnings about online phishing and scams. However, Nikhil highlights the need for these warnings to be available in Hindi and regional languages to cater to a broader audience.
This cautionary tale serves as a reminder to remain vigilant against online scams and to educate vulnerable individuals about cybersecurity measures. By sharing his family’s ordeal, Nikhil hopes to raise awareness and prevent others from falling victim to similar fraudulent schemes.
