A senior citizen in Bengaluru has been defrauded of Rs 1.52 crore in the widespread courier scam wherein perpetrators make phone calls claiming to be police officials who have intercepted parcels with contraband material. As part of their modus operandi, the fraudsters ask the victims to transfer large amounts of funds to be cleared of drug trafficking and money laundering charges.
According to a complaint registered with the South CEN police station by senior citizen Debashish Das, 66, he received a call on November 10 from a person who identified himself as FedEx courier firm worker Kartikeya. The ‘courier firm worker’ claimed that a case had been registered against Das in Mumbai over a courier sent in his name to Taiwan with five expired passports, six credit cards, and 950 gram of the illegal MDMA drug.
Das was told that a police case had been registered with the Andheri cybercrime police station in Mumbai and he was asked to get in touch with an Andheri police officer on a Skype call.
When the senior citizen downloaded Skype and used a link that he was sent, a man identifying himself as Mumbai cybercrime branch police officer ‘Pradeep Sawant’ was on the other end of the video call.
The senior citizen was told that some persons had opened fake bank accounts in his name for money laundering and that to obtain clearance from money laundering charges he would have to send the details of all his bank accounts to a deputy commissioner of police.
A person pretending to be a DCP then told Das to close all his fixed deposit and savings accounts and to transfer the funds in these accounts to a bank account designated by the ‘DCP’.
Trusting the person who pretended to be a DCP, the 66-year-old man transferred Rs 1.52 crore through RTGS from his State Bank of India account to a Punjab National Bank account. The fraudsters who claimed that they would send back the money within 30 to 40 minutes after verifying whether money laundering was involved did not respond once the money was transferred, the victim has alleged.
The senior citizen is the latest victim of widespread fraud wherein the identities of law enforcement agencies like the Mumbai police, the NCRB, and the CBI are being used to cheat the gullible.
This incident serves as a stark reminder to everyone, especially seniors, to be vigilant against such scams. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
Official-sounding calls: Scammers often imitate authorities like police or customs officials to instill fear and urgency.
Threats and intimidation: They may threaten legal action, arrest, or even physical harm to pressure victims into complying.
Urgency to transfer money: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, claiming immediate action is necessary to avoid dire consequences.
Suspicious requests: Be wary of any requests to transfer money, share personal details, or click on unknown links.
If you encounter such a situation, it's crucial to:
Stay calm and do not panic.
Do not confirm any personal information or engage in lengthy conversations.
Verify the caller's identity directly with the official agency they claim to represent.
Never transfer money under pressure or fear.
Report the incident immediately to the police and cybercrime authorities.
By staying informed, cautious, and reporting suspicious activity, we can help protect ourselves and our loved ones from falling prey to these cunning scams. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Let's spread awareness and empower everyone, especially seniors, to navigate the digital world safely and securely.
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