On June 15, 2026, Indian comedian Vir Das took to social media site X and Instagram in video posts to call out online retailer Zepto for selling him a fake Apple Watch worth Rs 50,000. The watch was required urgently for an upcoming video shoot, and Das decided to use Zepto’s quick delivery service. When he received the watch, the packing was soiled and not sealed; there was no Apple branding anywhere on the box or accessories, so he immediately became suspicious of its authenticity.
On more thorough examination of the packaging, there were discrepancies: the exterior of the box was labelled as “Series 11″, yet the interior packing also mislabelled the product as “Series 9″. The labels on the rear of the watch read “Made in China” and “Designed by Watch in China”, a sharp contrast to Apple’s usual manufacturing process details that are usually on official products.
His x.com post reads, “Okay. Am I wrong, do all apple watches look like this or is @ZeptoNow @zeptocares being shady with china copies? By the way their customer device agent on the phone said there’s nothing they could do. Full scam. We needed one quick for a shoot. They charged us 50k.”
Das reported that he reached out to Zepto customer support for a resolution, but they informed him that they could not assist. Without help from the reputable retailer, he decided to take his complaint public, drawing attention to the issue of fake products being marketed via online platforms.
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Following heavy social media outrage, Zepto has finally sorted out the fake Apple Watch problem. Comedian Vir Das has verified that he got a genuine, sealed Apple Watch as a replacement for the fake one. Zepto has launched a reverse pick-up of the counterfeit device and is currently investigating how it entered their supply chain.
Zepto is working closely with its internal brand partners as well as Apple’s team to fix the situation and to ensure clarity. Das said the delivery driver involved in the case was not at fault and recommended that he register a complaint about receiving an unsealed watch.
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But the episode has led to a significant debate about consumer behaviour and the accountability of platforms in the quick-commerce business. They have asked if these are the right places for expensive electronic items, claiming that they often do not have the same extensive tracking and verification systems that authorised stores do. Additionally, Zepto has highlighted a problem with the One-Time Password (OTP) system, advising users to check that their products are real before giving their OTP, which shows possible risks to consumer safety in quick-commerce transactions.
