Man Loses Rs 1.8 Crore After Receiving a Call About Parcel Containing Clothes
Man Loses Rs 1.8 Crore After Receiving a Call About Parcel Containing Clothes
Retired Mumbai resident falls victim to elaborate fake parcel scam, losing Rs 1.8 crore to scammers posing as officials.
In a shocking case of fraud, a 76-year-old retired resident of South Mumbai was swindled out of Rs 1.8 crore through an elaborate fake parcel scam. The scam involved individuals posing as officials from a courier company, customs department and various police departments, exploiting the victim’s fear and confusion to extract a substantial sum of money.
The deception began on March 19 when the victim received a call from someone claiming to be an executive from a courier company. The caller informed him that a parcel in his name, allegedly sent to Myanmar, had been seized by customs officials. The parcel supposedly contained 150 grams of MDMA, alongside 4 kg of clothes, a laptop, and 20 fake passports. Shocked by the accusation, the victim denied sending any such parcel.
Initially resistant to making any payments, the victim stated his intention to approach the police. However, the fraudsters persisted, connecting him to another individual pretending to be a police officer from the Alambagh police station in Lucknow. This fake police officer claimed the case was a complex cyber fraud and suggested involving a supposed cyber police official.
The supposed cyber police officer then transferred the call to an individual posing as a CBI officer. This fake CBI officer instructed the victim to communicate via Telegram, a secure messaging app. Over Telegram, the officer added the victim to a group chat and demanded personal details, including identification documents and bank statements. The scammers threatened the elderly man with dire legal consequences, including imprisonment and loss of social standing.
Terrified and confused by the constant barrage of threats, the victim transferred Rs 1.8 crore from his fixed deposits to the fake CBI officer’s account between March 21 and April 22, 2024. Once the funds were transferred, the Telegram group was deleted and the victim realized he had been duped.
This incident highlights the increasing sophistication of scammers and raises concerns about the vulnerability of individuals to such elaborate frauds. To protect themselves, individuals should remain vigilant and cautious when receiving unsolicited communications involving personal or financial information. It is crucial to verify the identity of callers and avoid sending money to unknown individuals. If faced with such a situation, contacting local authorities immediately is the safest course of action.
