Delivery workers from Amazon and Flipkart began arriving with refrigerators, washing machines, smartphones, and televisions.
Veeramani, a resident of Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, was bombarded with expensive gifts delivered to his doorstep, but there was a catch: they were all cash-on-delivery orders (COD). The Madurai-based social media influencer, known for his humour, had asked for boxes of sweets ahead of Diwali, the festival of lights, and had shared his contact number along with his address on social media.
His followers took his request seriously but decided to oblige him with a twist. Instead of sending sweets, they flooded his doorstep with COD orders placed in his name.
Delivery workers from Amazon and Flipkart began arriving with refrigerators, washing machines, smartphones, and televisions.
Veeramani had not ordered any of the goods being delivered to his doorstep and had no money to pay for them. He was also unable to provide the one-time passwords (OTPs) requested by delivery personnel. One of the fake orders was reportedly for a television worth ₹1.69 lakh.
For those behind the prank, placing an order online was a matter of seconds. However, Veeramani was left dealing with repeated deliveries throughout the day. In a video, he made an emotional appeal to those targeting him, saying, “I fall at your feet. Please stop placing orders.”
He also spoke about the difficulty of managing the situation, saying, “Whether I switch my phone off or keep it on, there’s a problem.”
Food deliveries and bizarre fake orders add to Veeramani's ordeal
The harassment was not limited to electronic appliances. According to neighbours who spoke to Times of India (TOI), delivery agents from food delivery platforms Swiggy and Zomato also repeatedly turned up at his home with orders he had never placed.
Some pranksters escalated the situation further by circulating screenshots of fictitious orders for JCB excavators and military tanks allegedly worth ₹70 crore.
Fake kidney donation requests add to the harassment
In another troubling development, someone reportedly circulated Veeramani's phone number in connection with kidney donations. This led to enquiries about organ donation, adding another layer of distress to the repeated fake orders and unwanted calls.
Despite repeatedly asking the pranksters to stop, Veeramani continued to face harassment. In a later video, he said he was planning to leave town because people had been confronting and reprimanding him over the expensive orders placed in his name.
“I'm going out of town. So many people are after me after people ordered in lakhs. They are scolding me,” he said.
This was not the first time Veeramani had asked his followers for a favour. Earlier, he had shared his phone number to seek contributions towards a trip to Kerala. His followers contributed ₹60,000, helping him fulfil his long-cherished dream of visiting the state.
About the Author
Kanishka Singharia
Kanishka Singharia is a Senior Content Producer at Mint with a passion for news, trends, and the stories shaping the digital world. She specialises in spotting viral narratives by constantly tracking social media platforms and turning them into engaging, reader-friendly stories. Her work ranges from fast-paced breaking updates to sensitive human-interest features, blending speed with clarity. <br><br> With over four years of experience in news and trend reporting, Kanishka has worked with leading organisations such as Hindustan Times and Times Now. She moves seamlessly between profiling business leaders and telling the stories of everyday people, covering national developments just as effortlessly as the memes and conversations that dominate online culture. <br><br> She also reports on real estate developments and civic challenges in major urban hubs like Bengaluru, Delhi, and Gurugram. Her coverage frequently explores the struggles of startup founders, inspiring journeys of CEOs, and the experiences of candidates dealing with the complexities of visa processes. <br><br> Kanishka holds an undergraduate degree in Journalism from Delhi University and a diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. Rarely offline, she spends much of her time scrolling through X, LinkedIn, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook in search of the next big story. When she finally logs off, she enjoys binge-watching shows and exploring cafes in pursuit of good food and better conversations.