Courier scams, also known as parcel scams, are emerging as a new form of cyber fraud in India, with many unsuspecting individuals falling prey. In November 2023, a 66-year-old Bengaluru resident lost Rs 1.52 crore to one such scam, where criminals posed as police officials and deceived him into transferring money under the pretext of clearing fabricated charges.
In another incident, a PhD student from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru lost Rs 1,34,650. The scam began with a phone call from someone posing as a FedEx employee, claiming that a parcel in her name contained illegal items. The caller then connected her to a person pretending to be from the Mumbai Narcotics Division for “verification.” Through elaborate manipulation, the scammers requested her bank statements and coerced her into transferring funds to “validate” her accounts.
A similar case involved an IT professional from Mumbai who lost Rs 1.97 lakh. Likewise, a doctor from Delhi was defrauded of Rs 4.47 crore after believing that a package linked to him contained illegal goods. The scam’s alarming rise has been highlighted by Nithin Kamath, founder of Zerodha, who shared such instances on social media.
How the Scam Operates
It involves a series of phone calls or emails from scammers pretending to be police officials or call from well-known courier services including DHL, FedEx, or UPS. Scammers may also use caller ID spoofing to make their calls appear as if they are coming from another country or a legitimate courier company. They claim to have intercepted an “illegal package” either addressed or sent by the target.
This package, they claim, will have drugs and other illegal or suspicious items. To gain the victim’s trust, they may provide ways to solve the issue and ask the potential victim to follow their instructions to clear their name. Once the victim is convinced the package is real, they’ll demand money (either in the form of online payment or gift cards) to “clear” the package from Customs to prevent legal repercussions for the victim.
Courier frauds are on the rise, with many unsuspecting victims falling for them and ending up losing crores of money. If you receive a scam call or email, report it immediately.
What to Do if Targeted
If you receive suspicious calls or emails involving a courier, it is crucial to report them immediately. Victims are encouraged to contact the cybercrime helpline at 155260 or file complaints on cybercrime.gov.in. Alternatively, visiting the nearest police station can help initiate further action.
A FedEx spokesperson has warned: “We do not request personal information via unsolicited calls, mail, or emails unless initiated by customers. Anyone receiving suspicious messages should immediately alert local authorities or report them to the cybercrime department of India.”
The growing prevalence of courier scams highlights the importance of vigilance to prevent further losses.
