A new kind of scam is making the rounds this year, with fraudsters duping people of lakhs of rupees by posing as customs officials in major cities. Referred as the “courier scam,” this method involves imposters, claiming to be police officials or NCRB agents, contacting individuals and accusing them of illegal activities related to sending or receiving parcels containing drugs or prohibited substances.
How this scam works:
Scammers, pretending to be customs officials, call their targets, alleging that a parcel in their name contains narcotics or banned substances. They then go a step further, impersonating police officers to discuss potential arrests. They induce fear of arrest and coerce victims into settling false complaints by offering money to avoid legal consequences which ends up in the scamsters’ pockets.
The scammers use psychological tactics to distress victims, extracting personal and bank details, including Aadhaar information. Some scams initiate with missed calls, leading victims to automated voice messages claiming to be helplines for courier companies like FedEx or Blue Dart. The callers, posing as police, then blackmail victims into making payments.
Recent Case of Courier Scam:
According to a report of News 18, a resident of Bengaluru lost a staggering Rs 1.52 crore after falling prey to the courier scam. The fraudster, posing as a FedEx employee named Kartikeya, informed the victim of a case against him in Mumbai involving a courier sent to Taiwan containing credit cards, expired passports, and MDMA drugs. The victim, in a series of manipulated interactions, ended up transferring his entire savings, including fixed deposits, to the scammer’s account.
How to stay safe in such a situation?
To stay safe, authorities advise against providing OTPs, Aadhaar numbers, or bank information to unknown callers. Individuals should be wary of impersonators claiming to be banks, police, or other officials and avoid calling back unknown or suspicious contacts. Verifying the caller through official sources before sharing any details and refraining from clicking on suspicious links are also recommended.
It’s crucial to act cautiously, gather information, and consult trusted individuals before making any transactions. Victims can report cybercrimes to the designated complaint number (155260) or file a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in.