Cybercriminals using India Post for online fraud; here’s how they target victims
Cybercriminals using India Post for online fraud; here’s how they target victims
Recent reports indicate that cybercriminals are utilizing India Post as a means to perpetrate fraud. They are indeed taking advantage of every opportunity available to them.
Currently, cybercriminals are targeting India Post to deceive unsuspecting individuals. While the number of reported incidents remains relatively low, experts express concern that this could change significantly.
In 2023, Telangana recorded 89,783 complaints related to cybercrime, with courier scams notably impacting retired individuals and homemakers.
This issue has gained attention following a recent scam involving a retired government employee. In a notable case, a 75-year-old retired central government official from West Marredpally lost Rs 23.26 lakh. The scam began when the victim received a call from someone posing as an India Post representative. The individual who made the call asserted that a package dispatched by the victim from Mumbai to Dubai contained illicit items, including police uniforms and identification cards.
Following this, the victim was encouraged to report the incident to law enforcement and was put in touch with someone who identified himself as Vishal Thakur, who falsely represented himself as a police officer.
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) is actively engaged in a comprehensive investigation regarding this situation. Thakur claimed that the victim’s Aadhar details were being misused for money laundering purposes and proposed a commission of around Rs 400 crore from the alleged scam.
Under pressure, the victim transferred Rs 23.26 lakh into an account to verify his credentials with the Reserve Bank of India. At this stage, the victim had no reason to be suspicious. It was only when an additional demand of five lakhs was made that he began to have doubts.
The operation was executed with such precision that even a retired individual fell prey to their scheme. Authorities were notified, and an investigation was initiated. Findings indicated that the accounts utilized by the fraudsters to execute the scam were linked to West Bengal. However, the police suggest that these accounts are likely to be mule accounts.
The increase in FedEx courier scams has emerged as a significant strategy employed by fraudsters, with victims generally experiencing financial losses ranging from 50,000 to 2 crore. Law enforcement statistics reveal that approximately 30% of all cyber crimes are related to courier fraud, with retired individuals and homemakers being the primary victims.
