Asked for Diwali sweets, flooded with costly cash-on-delivery orders: How an influencer's viral post turned into a delivery nightmare

A celebratory request made on social media forced the Madurai-based content creator to leave his home after his followers started sending a stream of unsolicited cash on delivery (COD) orders to his address.

Veeramani, who is known for his local slang and funny online videos, shared his residential address in West Anuppanadi, Madurai, hoping that a follower would send him a box of sweets for Deepavali, according to PTI.

Instead, some followers allegedly used the address to place a number of cash on delivery orders in his name. Delivery men from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Flipkart reportedly turned up at his residence with expensive electronic items, including washing machines, refrigerators, smartphones and televisions. One TV order was reportedly valued at ₹1.69 million.

Veeramani neither placed the orders nor had the money to pay for them. So he couldn’t take delivery or share the OTP needed to complete the deliveries.

The pranks have reportedly spread beyond household items. Some users also shared screenshots online and claimed to have ordered heavy equipment, including JCB excavators and military tanks ₹70 million crowns.

Read also | Buying Food Delivery Supplies: 36% Return in 6 Months from Eternal – Bigger Benefit?

Food delivery executives from Swiggy and Zomato also reportedly arrived at his residence with orders from others. Upset with the repeated deliveries, Veeramani posted a video appealing to his followers to stop the pranks. In the video, he said, “I’m suffering a lot when I requested a sweet box. I bow at your feet… Please stop ordering. I’m under a lot of pressure.”

However, the deliveries are said to have continued despite his appeal.

When reporters and other social media influencers visited his residence in Anuppanadi, they found the house locked. Neighbors said Veeramani left the premises after facing persistent harassment from delivery men who arrived at different hours.

Read also | Flipkart ‘Eat-In’ food delivery in Bengaluru: What is it? Benefits, more

In his latest social media posts, the influencer said: “I’m traveling. No one can find my address. Now no one can control me.” Veeramani’s current whereabouts remain unclear, while calls to his publicly listed phone number are reportedly blocked.

Who bears the costs?

When a cash-on-delivery prank order is rejected at the door, the shipment is generally classified as a Return to Origin (RTO), meaning it is sent back to the retailer.

Sellers may incur forward and return shipping costs even though they do not complete the sale. According to Amazon Shipping India’s guide to RTO, sellers usually bear the cost of both parts of the shipment and do not receive revenue from the rejected order.

Read also | Zomato, Blinkit, Valmo Facilitate ITR Refund for Delivery Partners – What We Know

However, the seller does not necessarily have to absorb every fee. E-commerce platforms may charge certain fees depending on their arrangements and fulfillment policies. For example, the Amazon India Seller Policy provides reimbursements for specific charges for undeliverable and customer-rejected shipments fulfilled through Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), Easy Ship, and Seller Flex.

These include referral fees, while eligible shipping, weight handling, pick and pack and technology fees are also reimbursed depending on the fulfillment model.

The logistics partner is generally responsible for transporting the shipment to the customer and returning it to the seller if delivery is refused. The cost of these services is governed by his agreement with the seller or e-commerce platform.

Amazon Shipping India notes that RTO may include forward and reverse shipping charges along with additional handling charges. Therefore, the courier company does not automatically bear a financial loss just because the recipient rejects the shipment.