Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing

How Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing Works

Overview: This scam targets Indian vendors and suppliers, especially small and medium businesses eager for new deals. Fraudsters pretend to be large enterprises or government departments and email realistic-looking purchase orders (POs), luring victims into supplying goods or making advance payments for registrations, paperwork, or logistics. The offer of a lucrative new order is often too tempting to ignore and losses can be substantial. How It Works: 1. Scammers create a fake domain/email resembling a respected company or PSU (e.g., tatasons.co instead of tatasons.com). 2. They send a detailed PO for large quantities of goods/services, often attaching forged documents. 3. To “secure” the order, victims are asked to pay an advance or register with a payment via UPI, NEFT, or even Paytm. 4. Once money or goods are sent, communications cease and the 'buyer' vanishes. India Angle: This fraud is prevalent among vendors in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Delhi. Platforms used include Gmail, WhatsApp, and business listing sites like IndiaMART. The scam especially hurts micro and small businesses looking to expand. Real Examples: "Congratulations! We, Bharat Aerospace Ltd., are pleased to offer you a supply contract. Pay ₹19,800 registration fee via UPI to process your vendor onboarding." Red Flags: 1. Too-good-to-be-true order sizes from unknown buyers. 2. Advance payment required before any real transaction or due diligence. 3. Unverified email domains (e.g., co.uk instead of .in or .com). 4. Lack of physical verification or in-person meetings. Protective Measures: - Always verify the legitimacy of new clients by contacting their official phone numbers or visiting their registered addresses. - Never pay advances or fees without direct verification. - Upload important documents directly via official websites, not links shared via email or WhatsApp. - Check for corporate domain authenticity. If Victimised: - Immediately alert your bank and request payment halt. - Report the case to cybercrime.gov.in and call 1930 helpline. - Inform relevant business or industry associations. Related Scams: 1. Tendering fee scam. 2. Business registration certificate fraud. 3. Courier payment phishing.

Visual Intelligence:

BharatSecure's AI has identified this as a used in scams targeting Indian users.

Who Does Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing Target?

General public across India

Red Flags — How to Identify Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing

• Large or unusual orders from unknown companies
• Requests for advance payment or fees
• Suspicious or unfamiliar email domains
• Pressure for quick action or confidentiality
• No face-to-face or video verification

What To Do If You Encounter Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing

1. Do not click any links or share personal information
2. Block and report the sender immediately
3. Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930
4. Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to Report Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing in India

• Call 1930 — National Cyber Crime Helpline (24x7)
• File a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in
• Contact your bank immediately if money was lost
• Call RBI helpline: 14440 for banking fraud

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing?

Overview: This scam targets Indian vendors and suppliers, especially small and medium businesses eager for new deals. Fraudsters pretend to be large enterprises or government departments and email realistic-looking purchase orders (POs), luring victims into supplying goods or making advance payments for registrations, paperwork, or logistics. The offer of a lucrative new order is often too tempting to ignore and losses can be substantial. How It Works: 1. Scammers create a fake domain/email rese

How does Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing work?

Overview: This scam targets Indian vendors and suppliers, especially small and medium businesses eager for new deals. Fraudsters pretend to be large enterprises or government departments and email realistic-looking purchase orders (POs), luring victims into supplying goods or making advance payments for registrations, paperwork, or logistics. The offer of a lucrative new order is often too temptin

How to protect yourself from Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing?

Do not click any links or share personal information Block and report the sender immediately Report at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 Inform your bank if financial details were shared

How to report Purchase Order and Advance Payment Phishing in India?

Report to cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 (National Cyber Crime Helpline). You can also contact your local police station's cyber cell.

Verify Any Suspicious Message

Check any suspicious message, link, or call for free at bharatsecure.app. BharatSecure uses AI to detect scams in real-time and protect Indian users.