Scammers continue to find new ways to deceive people and steal money from their bank accounts. One of the most common scams circulating today is the customs fraud. In this scheme, fraudsters pose as customs officials and demand payments for fake packages supposedly stuck in customs.
Recently, a woman from Kerala fell victim to this scam and lost Rs 12 lakh. The incident began when she received a phone call asking for Rs 15,000 as customs duty for a gift she was supposedly expecting, reports TOI. Believing the caller to be a real customs officer, she made the payment. However, the demands kept increasing as the scammers claimed they found higher-value items in the package, including dollars worth Rs 10 lakh. The victim continued to pay as directed, only realizing it was a scam when a friend alerted her.
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The government’s fact-checking division, ‘PIB Fact Check,’ recently shared on X how the customs scam works.
In the clip shared by PIB Fact Check, the victim receives a call from the Indian Customs department. The call begins with a pre-recorded message, stating there’s an issue with a parcel. The message prompts the user to press “9” for more details or help.
To avoid falling victim to customs fraud, first, verify whether you or anyone in your family has sent a courier. If not, ignore the call. You can also check any communication from Indian Customs using DIN on the CBIC website. Avoid clicking on any links sent to your phone, no matter how real they seem. Never share personal information over the phone, as scammers can use it to trap you further. Report any such incident to your local police or the Cyber Crime department.