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A 24-year-old Mulund resident ended up paying nearly double the market price of an iPhone Pro Max, without ever receiving the phone — after falling victim to a months-long WhatsApp scam. The victim, identified as Parth Pawar, was approached via WhatsApp by a person claiming to be a sales representative of “Elite Best Company Group,” offering an iPhone 17 Pro Max at nearly half its price and promising delivery from the US.  

To gain his trust, the accused shared photographs, ID details and packaging visuals, claiming the phones were factory-sourced and unlocked for use in India. He initially paid Rs 10,000 as a booking amount. The deal quickly turned into a trap. The soon demanded additional payments under various pretexts, including shipping charges, customs duty, taxes and clearance fees, each time assuring the delivery would be completed.  

In a further twist, the fraudsters claimed that 11 phones had been mistakenly shipped instead of one, putting the order “on hold” and demanding more money to resolve the issue. They continued contacting the victim through multiple international and domestic numbers, creating urgency and lending credibility to the scam. Over nearly four months, from October 2025 to February 2026, the victim made 37 transactions, transferring a total of Rs 2,99,500 to different mobile numbers linked to the accused.  

The scam came to light after victim discussed the matter with his family, who alerted him that he had been cheated. He then approached the cyber helpline before lodging a complaint with Navghar police. Police officials said the case highlights a growing trend of “layered payment scams,” where victims are gradually coerced into making multiple payments under seemingly legitimate charges.

A case has been registered under relevant sections of the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police are now tracing the accused, including a man identifying himself as “Mohammed Yusuf,” and others linked to multiple phone numbers used in the fraud.

Police advisory (Dos & Don’ts)

“Citizens should exercise caution while purchasing products online, especially through WhatsApp or social media platforms,” the police has said.

Dos
>> Verify the seller and company through official websites
>> Purchase only from authorised platforms or retailers
>> Check reviews and authenticity before making payments
>> Report fraud immediately on cyber helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in

Don’ts
>> Do not trust “too-good-to-be-true” offers on gadgets
>> Do not transfer money to unknown mobile numbers or UPI IDs
>> Do not make multiple payments under pressure for shipping, customs or clearance
>> Do not share personal or banking details with unknown sellers