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Online courier scams have become a major concern in India, with people falling prey to the schemes of online fraudsters and losing lakhs of money. The scam involves individuals impersonating courier executives and police or CBI officers. They contact victims and falsely claim that a parcel containing illegal items has been seized at the airport. Subsequently, they ask the victims to make a payment. In this report, we will investigate the modus operandi of online courier scams, provide details of some victims, and update on the current status of the scams in India.
Modus Operandi
The online courier scam is a type of phishing scam where fraudsters trick people into sharing their bank account details and transferring money into other accounts. The scam usually starts with a phone call from someone claiming to be a courier executive or a police officer. The caller informs the victim that a parcel containing illegal items like tiger skins, cocaine, or high-value jewellery has been sent to them. The caller then asks the victim to get on a Skype call for further investigation and to keep the matter private. The fraudsters then send forged documents to the victim, claiming that the parcel has been seized at the airport and that the victim needs to pay a fine to release it. The victim is then asked to transfer the money to a bank account provided by the fraudsters.
Victims' Stories
Case 1
A 37-year-old woman who runs a medical shop had recently become a victim of courier fraud, wherein scammers targeted her through a phone call. The caller claimed to be a courier executive and informed her that a parcel containing illegal items had been sent to her. The caller then asked her to transfer money to a bank account to release the parcel. The victim transferred Rs 2.7 lakh to the bank account provided by the fraudsters.
Case 2
In a recent case of an online scam, a woman from Ahmedabad lost Rs 1.38 lakh after clicking on a fraudulent link related to a courier delivery. The victim received a message that a parcel was waiting for her and that she needed to pay Rs 5 to receive it. After clicking on the link, she was asked to enter her bank details, and the fraudsters withdrew Rs 1.38 lakh from her account.
Case 3
A student from Bengaluru lost Rs 1,34,650 after falling for a courier scam. She received a call from an individual posing as a FedEx employee, who asked her to join a Skype call for identity verification. The caller then informed her that a parcel containing illegal items had been sent to her and that she needed to pay a fine to release it. The victim transferred the money to a bank account provided by the fraudsters.
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| The Rise of Online Courier Scams in India |
Current Status
The Greater Chennai Police recently warned the general public about an online cheating scam in the name of FedEx courier calls. According to the police, those behind the scam were impersonating employees of the FedEx courier service company. The police have advised people to stay alert and not to share their bank account details with anyone. The police have also urged people to report any suspicious calls or messages to the authorities.
The Indian Express reported that cybercriminals are posing as IPS officers and courier executives to dupe people. The report stated that the fraudsters contacted victims and falsely claimed that a parcel containing illegal items had been seized at the airport. Subsequently, they ask the victims to make a payment. The report also noted a spike in cases of courier scams in Bengaluru, where gullible youngsters were duped by people impersonating police or CBI officers.
Conclusion
Online courier scams have become a major concern in India, with people falling prey to the schemes of online fraudsters and losing lakhs of money. The fraudsters impersonate courier executives and police or CBI officers and trick people into sharing their bank account details and transferring money into other accounts. The police have advised people to stay alert and not to share their bank account details with anyone. People should also report any suspicious calls or messages to the authorities. It is important to be aware of such scams and to take necessary precautions to avoid falling victim to them.
References:
- https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/online-fedex-courier-scam-in-chennai-police-asks-people-to-stay-alert-2441530-2023-09-28
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/drugs-parcel-cyber-criminals-posing-ips-officers-courier-executives-dupe-people-8867418/
- https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/students-in-bengaluru-fall-prey-to-courier-scam-8689847/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/indians-losing-lakhs-to-the-new-courier-scam-what-is-happening-how-to-stay-safe-2399043-2023-06-28
- https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/fpj-cyber-secure-womanloses27-lakh-toscammers
- https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/14am43d/psa_watch_out_for_this_new_scam_the_international/
- https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/woman-pays-rs-5-to-receive-parcel-ended-up-losing-rs-138-lakh-in-a-new-online-scam-2406029-2023-07-13
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