The scam unfolded when the accused purchased 62 high‑end gadgets from the Mumbai seller, then returned them with counterfeit junk, claiming they were the original items. The return requests were processed by Amazon’s automated system, which issued a full refund before the seller could verify the contents. Among the stolen goods were Apple Watch Series 11, AirPods Pro 3, DJI Osmo Action 6, Sony PS5, Ray‑Ban Wayfarer glasses, Gigabyte RTX 5090, and Titan watches.
The victim, 60‑year‑old Rajesh Kumar, has sold on Amazon for five years, building a reputation for reliable shipments. His inventory history shows a steady growth of ₹3.5 lakh in sales per quarter before the fraud. Kumar told reporters he was blindsided by the sudden refunds, which wiped out a significant chunk of his capital.
Police opened an FIR on August 15, 2026 at Ghatkopar station, citing Sections 420 and 371 of the Indian Penal Code for cheating and forgery. The investigation is focusing on three hotspots—Nashik, Jalna, and Mumbai—where the accused is believed to be operating. Senior Inspector Rahul Desai said the case will be forwarded to the Economic Offences Wing for further scrutiny.
Kumar’s wife, Meera, described the incident as a "shocking blow that left us worried about our future." She added that their savings account, which had been earmarked for their granddaughter’s education, had been drained in a single day. The seller has requested a refund from Amazon, but the company’s policy states returns must be verified before reimbursement.
Next week, the Mumbai Cyber Crime Cell is slated to hold a preliminary hearing on August 22, 2026, where the accused will be arraigned. If found guilty, the fraudster faces up to 7 years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹20 lakh under IPC provisions. Amazon has pledged to review its return verification process to prevent repeat incidents.