Kolkata Police arrested 17 people, including nine women, for running a cyber fraud racket exploiting the Cash on Delivery (COD) mode widely used in online shopping. Acting on complaints, the Cyber Police raided a call centre in Gariahat, seizing 43 mobile phones, SIM cards, laptops, and wireless devices. Investigators revealed that fraudsters tricked buyers into paying via QR codes or phone numbers before receiving goods, posing as delivery agents, and then failed to deliver the products.
Police warned that COD payments should only be made after receiving goods, stressing that fraudsters were stealing digital information to target buyers. The arrests highlight growing cybercrime risks in e-commerce, with authorities intensifying crackdowns on such scams. The case underscores the need for vigilance among online shoppers and stricter monitoring of fraudulent call centres exploiting consumer trust.