Hyderabad man loses ₹1.97 Lakh in fake Big Basket grocery scam

Hyderabad: A 36-year-old resident of Yousufguda fell victim to a major cyber fraud after attempting to buy groceries online through a fake website posing as the authentic Big Basket platform.

The scam cost him ₹1,97,497 after he unknowingly installed a malicious application sent by the fraudsters.

According to the Cybercrime Police, the victim placed an order on September 30, 2025, on the fraudulent website that offered groceries at heavily discounted prices.

Two days later, he received a phone call from a person claiming to be a Big Basket customer care representative, who informed him of a pending payment.

Fraudsters send malicious App link

The caller convinced the victim to download an APK file sent via WhatsApp to clear the pending dues. Believing it to be genuine, the victim installed the file and made a small payment of ₹360. Moments later, he received an SMS alert showing a large, unauthorized debit from his credit card.

Though the victim had not shared any OTP or banking credentials, the amount was deducted from his account. Subsequently, he discovered that call forwarding had been activated on his phone without his consent, a common technique used by scammers to intercept verification codes.

Cyber Crime Police alert citizens

Officials from the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have urged citizens to be cautious while shopping online and warned against installing APK files or visiting unverified websites.

They also appealed to the media to help spread awareness about the rise in Big Basket impersonation and similar online shopping scams.

Public Safety Guidelines

Authorities issued the following preventive measures for public awareness:

· Avoid shopping from unknown or unverified websites offering unusually low prices.

· Always verify the official website or mobile app of reputed companies before making any payment.

· Never download APK files sent through WhatsApp or unofficial sources, as they may contain malware or spyware.

· Do not share OTPs, passwords, or banking credentials, and avoid granting remote access to your phone.

· Regularly check bank and credit card statements for suspicious transactions.

· Report any suspicious links, messages, or calls immediately to your bank and local cybercrime unit.

· Ignore threatening messages claiming legal or financial action from unknown numbers—they are common scam tactics.

Helpline and Contact Details

Victims of such frauds can report incidents on the national cyber-crime helpline, 1930, or lodge complaints at www.cybercrime.gov.in.