A recent scam attempt on the e-commerce platform Daraz has raised concerns among online shoppers. Fraudsters tried to sell high-end laptops worth over NPR 200,000 for just NPR 65,000, deceiving unsuspecting buyers.
Engineer Exposes Fake Deal on Daraz
Ronish Maharjan, a computer engineer from Lalitpur, came across an unbelievable deal on Daraz. A seller named “Easy2Drop” was offering an Asus ROG Strix G16 gaming laptop for NPR 65,235, which typically costs over NPR 200,000 in the market. Suspicious of the unusually low price, Maharjan decided to investigate.
Fraudulent Payment Request
Maharjan placed an order using the Cash on Delivery (COD) option. The next day, he contacted the seller through Daraz’s chat box to confirm the delivery date. The seller insisted on upfront payment, claiming the laptop would be delivered within two days after payment.
When Maharjan reminded them about his COD order, the seller refused and said their store policy required advance payment. They then sent an eSewa QR code, asking him to transfer NPR 65,310. However, being aware of online scams, Maharjan refused to pay outside Daraz’s official payment system.
More Red Flags: Suspicious Behavior
- When asked if the laptop was new, the seller only sent a sealed box photo but refused to show the actual product.
- They offered to deliver the laptop using a service outside Daraz.
- After Maharjan refused to use eSewa, they guided him on how to load money into eSewa via mobile banking.
- They even tried to contact him on WhatsApp.
Realizing it was a scam, Maharjan proposed visiting the seller’s store with cash. However, the seller refused to provide a store location, insisting on online payment. Maharjan then canceled his order, and shortly after, Daraz removed the laptop listing.
Multiple Scam Attempts
A few days later, Maharjan noticed another similar listing for an HP Victus laptop at NPR 55,214, while its market price exceeded NPR 100,000. He contacted the seller, who again demanded advance payment via bank transfer. Maharjan refused and reported the seller to Daraz.
His colleague also tried to order the laptop but was asked to transfer money to a private account. When Maharjan searched for the seller’s shop in Putalisadak, the real business owner revealed they had closed their Daraz account six months ago.
Investigating the Fraudulent eSewa Account
Maharjan checked the eSewa account the fraudster provided and found it was registered under a hardware store. eSewa later blocked the account due to suspicious transactions.
According to Sumendra Rana, Business Manager at eSewa, they block accounts involved in suspicious activities or incorrect KYC details. Additionally, if a user mistakenly transfers money to the wrong account, eSewa temporarily blocks the ID for verification.
Daraz Warns Customers
Rupesh Bhattarai, a customer care representative at Daraz, warned that scammers might hack seller accounts to commit fraud. He advised customers to:
- Never share personal or payment details via Daraz chat.
- Only make payments through Daraz’s official system.
- Avoid transferring money to bank accounts or mobile wallets outside Daraz.
Daraz has been working with Nepal Police’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) to tackle such fraud cases. If a seller requests direct bank transfers, it is a strong sign of a scam.
Stay Safe! Always verify before making online purchases.
