Asif Nagar resident scammed via Instagram; paid Rs. 1.05 lakh for ‘free’ iPhone

Hyderabad: A 38-year-old resident of Asif Nagar, Hyderabad, fell victim to an online scam after engaging with an Instagram account named "Zam Zam Mobilez." The scammers claimed he had been randomly selected to receive a gift box containing an iPhone, an Ultra watch, and earbuds.

Posing as representatives of the Instagram page, the fraudsters sent the victim a link and instructed him to click on it and refer to “Parcel No. 65” during a follow-up WhatsApp call. They then continued to contact him via WhatsApp and Instagram, demanding payments under various pretexts such as gift charges, courier fees, GST, customs, and packaging costs.

Believing the offer was genuine, the victim made a series of transfers totaling ₹1.05 lakh. When the scammers demanded an additional ₹15,000 the next day, he consulted a friend and realized he had been defrauded.

 Public Advisory:

Authorities have issued a warning to remain cautious about unsolicited gift offers on social media platforms.

• Do not click on unknown or suspicious links.
• No legitimate company asks for payment to deliver a free gift.
• Always verify the sender’s identity before making financial transactions.

Victims are advised to preserve all messages, call logs, and payment records. Cyber frauds can be reported by calling 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in. For emergencies related to cyber fraud, contact or WhatsApp at 8712665171.