Trio Held in Telangana for Allegedly Cheating Snapdeal

The accused - Rapalli Mahesh (24), Bandi Yadaswamy (25), and G Ratnakar (23) of Godavarikhani town used to order online some items which included electronic goods, mobiles, and sarees etc, Godavarikhani town Inspector D Upender said.

"After receiving the items on Cash on Delivery (COD) scheme, they were returning some 'other' items to the company by keeping the items supplied alleging that the items supplied to them are duplicate and demanded refund of money," he said.

Since the items were returned, the firm was refunding the amount online. The trio was using the modus operandi since a year. A case had been registered under relevant section following a complaint by Snapdeal, he said, adding investigations were underway.

The case is very similar to one affecting Flipkart earlier this month. According to a report in the Bangalore Mirror, Veera Swamy, 32, of Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad, placed orders on Flipkart, received goods, and then allegedly replaced the items he ordered with fake items, which he would return to Flipkart.

Swamy apparently ordered over 200 items in the last 20 months, which were booked in the name of his mother, father, wife, brothers, and other neighbours, all totalling over Rs. 20 lakhs in value. According to the Bangalore Mirror, Swamy created fake email IDs and made bank payments through different accounts - when he allegedly returned the fake items, he would get a full refund on the different accounts.

Written with inputs from PTI