Jio Eat Scam Exposes Consumers to Digital Fraud Using Reliance Branding
Fraudsters Use Fake Website and YouTube Ads to Dupe Food Delivery Customers Across India
A fake food delivery platform named ‘Jio Eat’ has emerged as a new cyber fraud tactic, exploiting the Reliance Jio brand to mislead customers and siphon off money through fraudulent transactions. Despite using authentic-looking branding and policies, the platform is not affiliated with Reliance Retail in any way.
The Fraudulent Setup and Deceptive Offers
The bogus website, jioeat.in, falsely claims to operate in 15 cities, including Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, offering INR 500 worth of food for just INR 99 with free delivery.
- It mimics the interface of a legitimate app, complete with terms and conditions, a privacy policy, and a Mumbai-based registered address.
- The platform pretends to deliver from popular QSR brands like Pizza Hut, Subway, and Burger King, to add legitimacy.
The Modus Operandi of the Scam
Once users place an order, the platform redirects them to card-only payment options.
- Users receive an OTP for a significantly inflated amount, disguised as a legitimate transaction.
- For instance, a test order worth INR 130 generated an OTP for INR 16,119, billed by an entity called “CSC E GOVER”.
- If users input the OTP without verifying the amount, the money is debited instantly.
The fraud has been promoted via YouTube ads, and the site has been live for nearly 10 days, attracting widespread complaints on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Reddit.
Consumer Backlash and Demand for Action
Social media users have called out the scam, urging @JioCare and digital payment providers like Razorpay to act.
- “A big scam is operational in the name of #JioEat, promoted via YouTube ads with fake Razorpay links,” a user warned on X.
- We reached out to Reliance Retail for a statement on the scam and its next steps.
Context: Growing Digital Fraud in India
This scam coincides with a surge in digital payment frauds across the country.
- The Finance Ministry reported 2.4 million fraud incidents totaling INR 4,245 Cr in the first 10 months of FY25.
- In response, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra urged banks and fintechs in January to tighten cybersecurity and monitor third-party service providers more effectively.
Competitive Landscape in Food Delivery
Interestingly, Reliance Retail has not entered the food delivery segment, which continues to be dominated by Swiggy and Zomato.
- New challenger Rapido has launched ‘Ownly’, promising fixed delivery fees starting from INR 10, aiming to disrupt the duopoly.
The Jio Eat scam serves as a stark reminder of the rising sophistication of online fraud and the urgent need for public awareness and regulatory intervention to protect digital consumers.
