Cash on Delivery for a pet means you pay nothing online, but you do verify who you are. On Nearby Pets India that means a one-time check through DigiLocker and an Aadhaar e-Sign on the COD agreement. It's a reasonable thing to be cautious about, because scammers also use the words "Aadhaar" and "OTP". This guide explains what a genuine verification looks like, what you share and what you don't, and the rules that keep you safe.
Why COD needs verification at all
A live animal is reserved, vet-checked and transported specifically for each COD order. Fake orders and doorstep refusals put animals through long journeys for nothing. The one-time check confirms a real person at a real address has committed to the order. If you'd rather not verify, you can choose Full Payment or 25% Booking instead, which need no identity check.
What the genuine process looks like
- It starts on our website. You choose Cash on Delivery on the pet's page or at checkout on nearby-petstore.in. You start it yourself. It doesn't start from a link in a call from a stranger.
- Location: your browser asks to share your location, to confirm the delivery area is serviceable.
- DigiLocker: you are sent to the Government of India's DigiLocker to sign in with your Aadhaar number and an OTP. Check the address bar. The DigiLocker sign-in page is on a government domain ending in .gov.in.
- Selfie: a live photo matched against your DigiLocker photo.
- Extra details only if asked: a work-email OTP or business GST, address proof, or a short video consent.
- Aadhaar e-Sign: you review the order and e-Sign the COD agreement through our e-Sign partner, Leegality (app.leegality.com). An OTP goes to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
The full walkthrough is on how COD verification works.
What we receive, and what we don't
- From DigiLocker we receive your name, a masked reference and the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar. Never the full number.
- KYC data, the recorded video consent and the signed agreement are deleted 7 days after delivery, as stated in our COD policy.
The safety rules
- Never read out an OTP to anyone on a phone call, WhatsApp or SMS. You type OTPs only into the DigiLocker or e-Sign page yourself. Our staff will never ask for one.
- Check the address bar before entering your Aadhaar number or an OTP: a .gov.in DigiLocker page, our own site, or app.leegality.com for the e-Sign.
- Read what you're signing. The document should be the Cash-on-Delivery agreement and policies for your specific order: the pet, the amount and the delivery address. Don't sign anything you didn't expect.
- Never pay a "verification fee". COD verification is free. Anyone asking for money to "unlock" COD isn't us.
- No screen-sharing apps. Genuine verification never needs AnyDesk, TeamViewer or screen sharing.
What you're agreeing to
A COD order is a binding commitment to accept and pay in full at the doorstep. The only valid doorstep grounds for refusal are a sick pet or the wrong pet, shown at delivery. In return, the pet you receive must be the one verified on the recorded pickup video call. Read the full terms in the Cash on Delivery policy before you sign.
Where COD is available
COD is offered for delivery to Delhi NCR (Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad), Panipat, Sonipat, Ludhiana, Mohali, Chandigarh, Panchkula, Zirakpur, SBS Nagar, Rupnagar, Patiala, Bangalore, Bhopal and Mumbai, for orders of ₹5,000 to ₹65,000 including shipping. The live checkout always shows the current list.
If something feels wrong
Stop. Don't share the OTP, and contact us through the details on our website to check. If you think you've shared an OTP with a fraudster, call the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in straight away. You can also lock your Aadhaar biometrics through UIDAI.
For the full buying process, see the puppy buyer's checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Aadhaar e-Sign safe for Cash on Delivery?
Yes, when you start it yourself on the seller's website, sign in on the official DigiLocker page, and type OTPs only into those pages. Never share an OTP on a call or chat, and read the document before signing.
Does Nearby Pets India store my full Aadhaar number?
No. From DigiLocker we receive your name, a masked reference and the last 4 digits only. KYC data and the signed agreement are deleted 7 days after delivery.
Will Nearby Pets India staff ask for my OTP?
No. You enter OTPs yourself on the DigiLocker and e-Sign pages. Anyone asking you to read out an OTP should not be trusted.
Is there a fee for COD verification?
No. COD verification is free. A request for a verification or unlock fee is a sign of fraud.
Can I refuse a COD delivery?
Only if the pet is sick or is not the pet verified on the pickup video call, shown at delivery. A COD order is otherwise a binding commitment to accept and pay.
