Since lockdown, Indian consumers are increasingly adopting online shopping from direct-to-consumer(D2C) brands. The efficiency of delivery service can create a huge impact on the customer relationship with the brand. You may be already running an e-commerce store, or thinking about introducing an online store for your offline business. This process will generate huge e-commerce sales if they haven’t already. You might be looking for an efficient delivery partner to fulfill the orders and fulfill your customer's needs on time.
How to find the right delivery partner for your business?
1. Make sure, the delivery partner has greater coverage, as orders may come from different places in India.
2. Make sure, the payment options are versatile, for example, the delivery agent must accept cash, carry credit/debit card machine, and also accept UPI from every customer.
3. Make sure, the delivery partner offers a tracking system to customers and you, in order to understand the current status of their product.
4. Make sure, the delivery partner offers one-day/next-day delivery options for customers opting for the fastest delivery of products.
How a fake delivery partner looted several people from Jharkhand and West Bengal?
It is very difficult to find out which one is a genuine company when everything is presented as a professional organization. Each and every day, these scammers are improving their strategies and people are falling into the trap. Implex Cart International has been operating as a delivery partner management company with offices in Jharkhand and West Bengal during the lockdown period. Preeti Dubey started her own e-commerce business during that time, and she was searching for an efficient yet cheap delivery partner for her services. The main trick of these kinds of fraudsters is they set a trap with lucrative offers and attract customers easily. Somehow Preeti fell for the offer and found that the company was headquartered in Darbhanga, Bihar. So, Preeti partnered with them and started her operations. They explained that the cash on delivery payments they collect from the customers, they will settle the amount to Preeti monthly. With high hopes, Preeti fulfilled several orders and at last, she was waiting for the payment. Unfortunately, several months passed, still Preeti didn't receive a single penny from the company. She contacted the delivery agent, who explained to her that the company not only scammed the partners like Preeti but also, the agents didn't receive a single payment of salary till now. She understood the whole thing was a fraud and tried to contact other partners like her. She found that the company had employees in Jharkhand and West Bengal as well, who were equally scammed like her. Here are some of the images related to the transactions and company details, Preeti has shared in a Facebook group.
How to stay safe from fake delivery partner scams?
1. Make sure to verify all licenses and documents of the company before signing up as a delivery partner.
2. Pay and accept any payment with Vouch. It is a digital escrow system that releases your payment after your desired service is fulfilled.
3. Make sure to ask your customers about the payment, to verify the status of the delivery.
4. Always try to find delivery partners through recommendations or trustworthy websites and you can easily check for positive reviews.
What is a digital escrow?
Digital Escrow is the use of a third party account, during a transaction, which holds the money deposited by the person who is purchasing any product/service until the seller fulfills the terms of the agreement. The transacting parties are supervised by the escrow company.
How does Digital Escrow support small businesses in India?
Vouch’s Digital Escrow service is a transparent way for online sellers and buyers to build a long-lasting relationship by securing a clean transfer of product and payment. Buyers can feel assured that they will be fairly compensated in a timely manner, and buyers will feel confident that their orders will be delivered as expected and on schedule.
Vouch Digital Escrow uses a non-interest-bearing escrow account for all transactions in India and keeps you updated and informed at every step of the transaction process till the end. Vouch’s professionals are always available to assist you with all queries that you may have during the entire transaction process. There is no scope for deceit or fraud since the payments, shipping, delivery, and execution are carried out under the honest and watchful eyes of the Vouch’s professionals. With Vouch, any business transaction becomes transparent, uncomplicated, and hassle-free.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is Fraud Story #75. Check back here for more fraud chronicles and scams that you can protect yourself from.
Safety is not just about protecting your credit or debit card number. It's about having control of your money till you've delivered the product or service you contracted to!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: This is a good-faith initiative to educate the world about how to avoid frauds like these. Do you have a fraud that you would like to report? Please write to us at letstalk@iamvouched.com
