“Are you sure this is the right opportunity?”
Ravi (name changed), a well-established automobile businessman in Hyderabad, sat in his office, scrolling through his laptop screen.
He had spent the last few weeks looking for ways to expand his business, and now, right in front of him, was what looked like a golden opportunity, a chance to acquire a Kia Motors dealership.
A website named “Kia Dealers India” had caught his attention. It had everything: polished branding, high-quality images, and professional documents. It felt real.
Excited, he filled in his details.
A day later, his phone rang.
“Hello, Mr. Ravi? I’m calling from Kia Motors India. We received your application. Congratulations! Your location has been shortlisted for our upcoming dealership.”
The voice on the other end sounded confident, professional, exactly what you’d expect from a corporate executive.
“We just need to complete some formalities. Can you share your Aadhaar, PAN, and land lease agreements for verification?”
Ravi, being a businessman, had dealt with multiple official processes before. This seemed routine. Without hesitation, he sent the documents.
The Trap Closes In
Over the next few days, the so-called representatives sent him legal-looking contracts, fee structures, and dealership agreement forms. Everything was moving fast, faster than he had expected, but he convinced himself that maybe Kia was simply efficient.
Then came the money requests.
“Sir, we need ₹18 lakh as an initial security deposit to process your dealership application.”
Ravi didn’t blink. He wired the money.
Then came another request.
“There’s a licensing fee of ₹32 lakh, a stock booking advance of ₹45 lakh, and insurance documentation charges of ₹33 lakh.”
Each payment came with a logical explanation. Licensing, registration, approvals—it all made sense. By the eighth installment, Ravi had transferred a jaw-dropping ₹1.28 crore to various bank accounts, all under different names.
Then, one day, the calls stopped.
The numbers were unreachable.
His emails bounced back.
Panic set in.
Ravi frantically searched for alternate contacts for Kia Motors and finally managed to connect with their official customer service.
“Sir, we do not have any such dealership process underway. The website you mentioned is not affiliated with us.”
His stomach dropped.
It was a scam.
The Aftermath
Reality struck like a hammer. He had just been swindled out of over a crore.
He immediately filed a police complaint with the Cyberabad Cybercrime unit, detailing every transaction, every call, and every document he had shared.
The police confirmed his worst fears, he wasn’t the first victim. These scams had been running in different forms, preying on unsuspecting entrepreneurs eager to grow their businesses.
Investigations are now underway, but recovering the lost money remains uncertain.
Lessons From the Scam
This isn’t just Ravi’s story, it could happen to anyone. Cyber fraudsters are getting smarter, and scams are becoming more convincing. If a seasoned businessman like Ravi could fall for it, anyone can.
So, what can you do to avoid such traps?
- Verify Directly with the Company – If you’re looking for a dealership, call the official company helpline. Do not trust third-party websites or unsolicited calls.
- Look for Red Flags – Any process that demands payments in multiple small installments should raise suspicion.
- Check Website Authenticity – Fraudulent sites often mimic official ones but have slight variations in the domain name. A simple WHOIS check can reveal the real owner of the website.
- Be Aware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals – No major brand will offer dealerships without a rigorous in-person verification process.
- Report Scams Immediately – If you or someone you know has fallen victim, register with us and get complete assistance in reporting and getting recovery of losses.
Ravi’s story is a harsh reminder that in today’s digital world, trust must be earned, not assumed.
The moment someone pressures you to act fast, whether in business or investments, take a step back and question everything.
Because, as Ravi now painfully realizes, it only takes a few days to lose what took years to build.
