Software employees are the targets in this online parcel scam: Cyberabad Police
Cyberabad police cautions against customs courier scams
A software employee receives an unknown international call, informing about a parcel and later the same being seized, then receiving notices from investigation agencies, later being blackmailed with money laundering cases- this is an elaborate scheme devised by the cybercrime criminal to lure the victims into online parcel scams.
And in recent times, police say that there is a surge in these kinds of scams and caution the public about such deceptive frauds. Most of the potential targets of these frauds were well educated and software employees.
In this sophisticated scam, victims receive a series of calls from unknown VOIP numbers often consisting of Nine digit numbers or direct calls originating from abroad. The caller impersonating as a customs official informs the target victims that a parcel being dispatched from Mumbai to Taiwan or another country was seized because it contained illegal drugs, Passports, SIM cards and Mobile devices and others.
Detailing further about the scam, Cyberabad police said that in these scams, victims are also contacted through instant messaging platforms, impersonating as Mumbai Police. “After contacting Mumbai police, they ask them to install the Skype application to record their statements over a video call. Subsequently, they also obtain the victims’ Aadhaar IDs. After obtaining the Aadhaar IDs, they called the victims again and informed them that based on their ID proofs and bank statements, they were involved in money laundering cases,” said Cyberabad police.
Police further said, “They then threaten the victims to transfer funds for verification. Due to panic all the victims fall into the trap and transfer the money to their bank accounts”.
Threatening with false allegations is the Modus operandi
Explaining the modus operandi Cyberabad police said, “Cyber fraudsters lure citizens by making false accusations and threaten to implicate them in money laundering cases. They create impersonated police IDs, letters with government agency letterheads, and forward them to victims. In some conversations, the fraudsters demand victims to furnish bank account statements and credentials to verify financial transactions in the account and frighten them”.
Victims, believing them to be genuine officers, transfer the whole amounts available in their accounts. Moreover, the fraudsters are targeting well-educated people, mostly software employees, victimising them, added Cyberabad police.
Cyberbad police advised the citizens to refrain from responding to unknown VOIP calls or any application calls and said not to believe anyone showing virtual identity cards. Police further advise to confirm their authenticity by visiting your nearby police station or by dialling 100 and ask not to furnish any information to them until verified.
