The CEO of an IT company in Bengaluru recently fell victim to a courier fraud, losing a substantial sum of Rs 2.3 crore. The fraudsters, posing as FedEx executives, accused the CEO of involvement in money laundering and demanded money transfers to validate his transactions. The scam began when the CEO received a call from an individual claiming to be from FedEx, alleging that a parcel in his name containing illegal substances was being sent abroad. The caller, who had access to the CEO’s personal information, including his Aadhaar number, then transferred the call to someone claiming to be a police officer, who coerced the CEO into transferring money to avoid legal consequences.
Over the course of a week, the CEO transferred Rs 2.3 crore to eight different accounts as instructed by the fraudsters. The scam came to light when the Skype calls ceased, and the CEO realized he had been deceived. He filed a complaint with the police, highlighting the sophisticated nature of the scam and the importance of being cautious with unsolicited communications.
Courier fraud is a scam where individuals are tricked into believing they are involved in illegal activities or facing legal consequences, leading them to transfer money or divulge sensitive information under false pretenses. This type of fraud relies on psychological manipulation, false allegations, impersonation of authorities, and threats to exploit victims’ fears and vulnerabilities.
The victim, residing in CV Raman Nagar, lodged a complaint with the East CEN Crime police station on February 16 against unknown individuals. The scam commenced on February 6 when the CEO received a call from an unidentified number, with the caller posing as a FedEx executive from Mumbai. Alarmingly, the caller had access to the CEO’s personal details, including his name, Aadhaar number, and mobile number. The caller then informed the CEO about the suspicious parcel, claiming it contained 150 grams of MDMA, 4 kilograms of clothing, and 4 passports, all supposedly being sent illegally to Shanghai.
To further intimidate the CEO, the caller disclosed that a case had been filed against him at Mumbai’s Andheri narcotics police station. The call was then transferred to someone claiming to be Balaji Singh, DCP of the crime branch at Andheri East police station, who demanded that the CEO immediately travel to Mumbai or face arrest. In an effort to authenticate the call, the fraudsters conducted a Skype call, showing a setting resembling a police station with individuals in police uniforms, including the alleged Singh. Convinced of the call’s legitimacy, the CEO attempted to clarify that he was not involved in any illegal activities.
The CEO was pressured into transferring a total of Rs 2.3 crore into eight different accounts. The fraudsters continued their deception, claiming that a bank account had been opened in his name using his Aadhaar details and that money laundering was occurring through that account. They instructed him to keep the call confidential, even from his family. Between February 7 and 14, the CEO, named Ajit, sent various amounts adding up to Rs 2.3 crore to the accounts provided by the fraudsters, believing he was protecting his finances. After the transfers were completed, the Skype calls suddenly stopped, leading Ajit to realize he had been scammed and to file a police complaint.
This incident underscores the prevalence of sophisticated scams targeting unsuspecting individuals and highlights the need for caution and vigilance in financial transactions, particularly when dealing with unsolicited communications alleging legal or law enforcement issues. Courier fraud is a scam where perpetrators trick individuals into believing they are involved in illegal activities or facing legal consequences, compelling them to transfer money or divulge sensitive information under false pretenses. This fraud often involves complex schemes and psychological manipulation to exploit victims’ fears and vulnerabilities.
The fraudsters used various tactics to deceive the victim, such as making false accusations of criminal activities like drug trafficking or money laundering, impersonating legitimate authorities like law enforcement officers or courier company representatives, and using coercion and threats to pressure the victim into complying with their demands. These tactics are designed to instill fear and intimidate the victim into submission, fearing legal repercussions, arrest, or harm to themselves or their loved ones.