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Time of India

QR code on Bengaluru billboard leads to Red Envelope Club countdown website: What we know so far

While Bengaluru, better known as India's 'Silicon Valley,' made international headlines for torrential rain causing widespread urban flooding over the past few days, it was a digital billboard at an MG Road intersection that caught the attention of a commuter stuck in traffic. The billboard briefly flickered, displaying a QR code last evening before returning to its scheduled advertisement. The commuter, Anukriti Sharma, captured this moment — which lasted only a few seconds — on video and later posted it on her Instagram handle: @ ANUKRITISHARMA . The video shows her scanning the QR code, only to be redirected to a website — — which features a red envelope graphic accompanied by the phrase: 'Most envelopes deliver messages. This envelope delivers destinies.' Play Video Play Skip Backward Skip Forward Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions and subtitles off , selected Audio Track Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. ET Special The website displays a countdown timer set to end at 12:00 PM on 29 May, along with a red envelope icon and a prompt inviting users to answer a set of 'riddles.' One such multiple-choice riddle is: 'Choose one wish, but it has consequences, with the following options to choose from — eternal wealth, at the cost of my soul; unseen power, but at the risk of losing my humanity; a life without fear, but with no real love.' ET Special The website, however, does not clarify its purpose or affiliation, or provide any further information about the phrase 'this envelope delivers destinies'. As of now, there's no information on who manages this unverified account. No entity has claimed responsibility. What's the red envelope activity? Live Events It all started when on May 19, Instagram user Sohail Shaikh, going by the handle @imsohail_d, posted a video a flight — reportedly flying from Delhi to Dubai — breaking into a mid-air rap, with the lyrics featuring phrases such as 'Red envelope is a mystery … where elite minds create history' to 'Learn, learn, learn how to make your money dance', redirecting audiences to an Instagram handle: @ . Since then, similar posts have reportedly appeared across social media platforms, specifically Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), with #RedEnvelopeSociety even trending on X on May 20. ET Special In yet another such instance, a passenger vlogging on a Bengaluru-Qatar flight reportedly found a velvety red envelope — sealed with a gold insignia — tucked into her seat pocket. The video shows the passenger, Nirja Parekh (@nirjaparekh16), opening the envelope to find a QR code and a printed cryptic message that reads : 'In the next two hours, you can sleep, read, watch movies... but your money doesn't do any of this! Wanna know how the elite make their money work? Your invitation expires upon landing!' The QR code reportedly leads to the @ Instagram handle — which has grown to over 250,000 followers as of 28 May, 2025. Another video reportedly showed women in red satin dresses distributing similar red envelopes in airport lounges. On 21 May, an Instagram user, Deepanshi Gujral (@deepsi_predicts), posted a video titled 'What is this Red Envelope mystery?' . In the caption, Gujral asked whether this activity is linked to zodiac signs, with another user mentioning in the comments section that they would want to be 'worthy' of being selected as the recipient of the said 'red envelope'. ET Special Similarly, other Instagram users, too, posted videos reportedly showing women in red satin dresses distributing similar red envelopes in airport lounges. One such user, Raj Shivtare ( @ , ponders over the nature of the red envelope, suggesting that it might potentially be linked to 'stock tips from the future' or 'formulas' on 'how to retire by 30 without any side hustles' — essentially indicating investment knowledge. ET Special Another Instagram user, Chest Agarwal ( @chestagarwal ), posted a video referencing an individual who reportedly ingested the red envelope. In the caption, Agarwal mentioned how some users are now questioning the nature of the envelope and wondering whether it is linked to a 'secret (financial) society invite.' ET Special Messages such as 'Learn how the elite make their money work' have led some users to speculate whether the red envelope is linked to financial advice or online money-making methods. However, no direct linkage has been established so far. Two days ago, Instagram user ( @ posted a video claiming that her friend, a working professional, and his colleagues were bombarded with a sudden interruption during a Zoom call when the screen flashed visuals of a red envelope, accompanied by a voiceover saying, 'I like destiny', with no entity claiming ownership of the audio-visual elements. It was then that the user connected the dots and realised how the red envelope conversation has grown—now with repeated sightings across airport lounges and flights—and how it has got everyone hooked, especially as netizens are curious to learn the real meaning of the cryptic message: 'Wealth is not earned; it's unlocked' . In her caption, she reiterated speculations about whether these activities point to an 'elite-level game' or are a litmus test for some secret society. Does her friend's company have any connection to this society? So far, there's no answer. ET Special In another instance, an Instagram user (@ stylewithsohu ) shared how, while waiting for her flight at the Mumbai airport, a digital screen grabbed her attention. It flashed the message: ' Did your money make more money?' In her video post, she noted that the message hinted that some people are already ahead in the race to grow their money. When she scanned the QR code, it directed her to @ seen in multiple earlier instances. In the post, she also wrote that this has now propelled the red envelope series of activities to the level of a 'thriller', with insinuations of an impending suspense waiting to be unveiled. ET Special That's not all. Another Instagram user (@ kishorebandana ) referenced a voice note in which an individual talks about the same Red Envelope Society and how it doesn't chase wealth but creates it. The user shared how she, like many others, is curious to understand the true nature and intent behind this Instagram page—whether it's related to the stock market or tied to billionaires' how-to-make-money or how-to-become-rich playbooks. ET Special Unpacking the Instagram page: An invite-only network of elites The Instagram account — which describes itself in its bio as 'an invite-only network of elites' — has posted eight times to date. Each post features the red envelope accompanied by vague, cryptic captions. Among them is a pinned message that reads: 'Cannot be bought or earned. Only chosen!' While no verifiable claims have been made, the envelope's messaging — which hints at wealth-building strategies — has prompted some users to interpret it as a possible teaser for 'get-rich-quick' tactics. The page appears to function like an interactive treasure hunt. As of now, the account remains unverified, and there is no publicly known individual or organisation behind it. No entity has claimed ownership. From flight seat pockets to airport lounges, the red envelope has been spotted in multiple settings. Though no official source has taken credit, the envelope — typically velvety and sealed with a gold insignia — is becoming a recognisable object, as evidenced by a growing number of social media posts. The countdown is set to end at 12:00 PM on 29 May. The countdown's conclusion may offer further clarity on what the red envelope truly represents — whether this is part of any marketing gimmick, a trend experiment, or, if at all, it has some genuine value or knowledge-sharing intent attached to it.