Fake TikTok Jewelry Shop Scams Buyer Out of Rs 97,843 Through QR Code Refund Trick

Kathmandu. A woman from Lalitpur lost Rs 97,843.21 to cyber fraud after fraudsters posing as an online jewelry seller tricked her into scanning a QR code under the pretext of processing a refund.

The 31-year-old victim, whose identity has been withheld and is referred to as Ramila Sharma (name changed), told TechPana that she came across an advertisement for a silver locket on TikTok's For You page. The account, operating under the name 'SKS ONLINE SHOP', had nearly 8,000 followers and listed Bhaktapur Radhe Radhe Chowk as its location, along with the WhatsApp number 9801772948.

After contacting the seller on WhatsApp, Sharma was informed that the locket would cost between Rs 6,000 and Rs 9,000, depending on its design and size. The seller then requested an advance payment of Rs 2,000 to confirm the order.

Although Sharma was aware of escrow payment systems offered by digital wallets, the seller insisted that the advance be transferred directly to a bank account, claiming there were transaction limits on eSewa. She transferred the amount last Wednesday.

When the ordered item failed to arrive, Sharma contacted the seller for an update. The person claimed the payment had not been received and advised her to visit her bank. Bank officials later confirmed that no funds were on hold, contradicting the seller's claim.

The fraudsters then asked Sharma to send a screenshot of her bank statement. Although she blurred sensitive account details, they persuaded her to join a video call with screen sharing enabled, allowing them to determine that her account held more than Rs 100,000.

They later sent her a QR code, claiming it was required to process a refund of the advance payment. Sharma was instructed to enter the remark "To Refund Money 2010 0097843.21" and copy the number 0097843.21 into another field, which she was falsely told was an order reference number.

Believing she was completing a refund process, Sharma entered her banking PIN. Instead, she unknowingly authorized a transfer of Rs 97,843.21 from her account.

After realizing she had been scammed, Sharma immediately contacted the seller, who initially claimed the money had been received by mistake and promised to return it. However, the funds were never refunded, and communication eventually stopped.

Sharma filed a complaint with the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau on Friday. However, she said the TikTok account remains active and continues responding to potential customers through WhatsApp. While messages are still being answered, voice calls to the listed SmartCell number reportedly do not connect.

Speaking to TechPana, Sharma said the scammers gained her trust by communicating politely and operating an account with thousands of followers.

"They spoke very nicely from the beginning, and the account looked genuine because it had many followers. During the video call, they manipulated me into believing I was receiving a refund. I didn't realize the number I entered was actually the amount being transferred," she said.

The incident highlights the growing use of social engineering tactics by cybercriminals, who exploit fake online stores and refund schemes to trick victims into authorizing fraudulent transactions.

पछिल्लो अध्यावधिक: साउन ११, २०८३ १५:१८

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