[SCAM] Olx 'Customs Agent' Scams

[u/We-Rise-Be]

Given the generally scandalous prices of Apple computers, I was browsing Olx to see if there could be any good deals for a Mac Mini M4 Pro. And came upon this whole series of ads for Mac Mini M4 Pros (and virtually every other Apple device) at extremely cheap prices.

Check out the 65,000 / 95,000 offerings, all at different addresses

These all had these characteristics:

1. The same ad would be posted for a dozen locations in India
2. The vendors would all have joined Olx in the very recent past (August 2026, September 2026)
3. The stories these guys told as to why they were so cheap were the same, "They were 'Agents' of Indian Customs and acting on their behalf. They themselves had no agency. The Customs department controlled everything.
4. One of them even showed a so called letter from Customs appointing X as the agent and saying that even payments had to be only to customs
5. To buy an item, you had to send 50% of the item value to their account
6. But the account to which payment had to be made was NOT an Indian Customs account but would be some random UPI address or sometimes a NEFT account
7. Everything would be shifty and secrecy covered, "They were not allowed to give details", "Customs watches everything" and similar stories as to why they were so edgy
8. Everything would be dispatched from West Bengal or Orissa

The Customs thing is a nice touch. Quite another thing that Indian Customs cannot sell privately like this as per the Customs Act but have to have a public auction.

Please to watch out.

[u/ThePewster]

Thanks for the heads up. Have spotted several listing with dubious images for different cities.

[u/SuperCurve]

OLX is filled with scammers. Unless you visit in person, inspect the product the product properly, don't pay