Fraudsters Use Reliance’s Tira Masthead To Dupe Naive Netizens

SUMMARY

According to court documents, the scamsters have already deceived thousands of consumers across India, causing losses exceeding INR 41 Lakh

Customers were told that their payments had failed, prompting the scammers to request fresh payments via UPI or QR codes linked to unrelated accounts

The court restrained all persons from using the Tira name and logo that could mislead consumers, and directed telcos to block all mobile numbers used in the scam

The Delhi High Court (HC) has restrained certain unnamed individuals and entities from allegedly impersonating the trademark of Reliance Retail’s beauty brand “Tira”.

The order, dated July 7, came after Reliance Retail filed a trademark case, alleging that certain entities had carried out large-scale impersonation and financial fraud targeting customers of the brand.

According to court documents, the fraud network, which became active in May 2025, has already deceived thousands of consumers across India, causing losses exceeding INR 41 Lakh.

How the Scam Unfolded?

As per the HC order, the scam involved an organised group of individuals using fake mobile numbers and WhatsApp accounts to contact customers. These individuals pretended to be Tira agents and misled people into making payments under false pretences.

Victims received messages and calls promising gift cards, offering fake promotional codes, or warning about order cancellations. In many cases, customers were told that their payments had failed, prompting the scammers to request fresh payments via UPI or QR codes linked to unrelated accounts.

To make their claims believable, the fraudsters even circulated fake identity cards, mimicking Reliance Retail branding to lure unsuspecting customers.

The scale of the scam appears to be extensive. Reliance Retail informed the court that it became aware of the fraud in May, and within just two months, more than 8,900 complaints had been filed by consumers across multiple cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.

“… Today, it is estimated that around 8,919 cases have been filed by consumers over a span of approximately two months across different cities in India against the aforesaid rogue mobile numbers, including Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai,…, etc., with 666 cases, as per the list handed over by the learned senior counsel for plaintiff, filed in Delhi, and consumers have been defrauded for a total amount exceeding INR 41 Lakhs,” read Reliance Retail’s plea.

Reliance Retail Takes The Legal Route

Acting on consumer complaints, Reliance Retail filed a lawsuit in the Delhi High Court, seeking immediate protection of its brand, trademark rights, and customers. The company argued that the scammers were not only misusing the Tira brand but also causing confusion, distress, and financial damage to the public.

The retail giant urged the court to issue restraining orders against all individuals involved and to ensure that telecom and digital platforms cooperate in identifying and blocking the perpetrators.

Hearing the matter on July 7, Justice Saurabh Banerjee recognised the seriousness of the matter and passed an interim order in favour of Reliance Retail.

The court restrained all persons from using the Tira name, logo, or any similar mark that could mislead consumers. The court also directed telcos to block all mobile numbers used in the scam and reveal the names of persons who registered these SIM cards.

WhatsApp, which was used by the fraudsters to approach customers, was also asked to suspend the accounts linked to these numbers and share subscriber information.

Similarly, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) was instructed to freeze all UPI and QR code payment links associated with the scam and disclose the account holders’ details.

Further, government authorities, including the telecom department (DoT) and the IT ministry (MeitY), were also included as parties to the case to ensure that these actions are implemented.

The matter will be heard again on November 6. Meanwhile, the court’s temporary order is expected to give law enforcement time to investigate the scam network further and possibly trace the individuals behind it.

Last month, Inc42 discovered that scammers were operating a website under the name Jio Eat, which used the logo of Reliance Jio to offer food delivery services in 15 cities. However, users were being duped of their cash upon placing the order. The website was taken down after an Inc42 journalist exposed the scam.

Earlier in 2023, the Delhi HC also ordered the Delhi Police to investigate an RIL complaint that its AJIO trademark was being used by scammers to dupe people.