Man loses Rs 20 lakh to fake FedEx representative in courier scam

Scams that target people’s hard-earned money are becoming increasingly common. Recently, a man became a victim of a sophisticated fraud, losing Rs 20 lakh to a scammer who posed as a representative from the popular courier service, FedEx. Keep reading to know how the scam unfolded and how you can protect yourself from such scams.

On November 7, Dhanush, the victim, received a call from a person claiming to be Akash Verma, a FedEx courier service representative. The caller informed Dhanush that a parcel he had supposedly sent contained illegal items, including two kg of clothes, four expired passports, four debit cards, a laptop, and even 420 grams of MDMA drugs.

The scammer claimed that the package was currently with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai and that it was addressed to a person named Arman Ali.

Also read: Woman loses Rs 1.94 lakh after clicking on a job-related link on Instagram

The caller continued the deception by asking Dhanush to join a Skype video call for “police clearance.” During the call, the fraudster convinced Dhanush to provide sensitive personal information, including copies of his Aadhaar card and bank statement. This allowed the scammer to gain access to Dhanush’s ICICI Bank iMobile app, and then he directed him to transfer Rs 20 lakh to a bank account. Trusting the scammer, Dhanush followed the instructions and transferred the money. It was only later that he realised he had been tricked.

Also read: Businesswoman loses Rs 5cr to scammers posing as law officials: Here’s how it happened

How to protect yourself from such scams

• Verify caller information: Always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from a courier company, government agency, or financial institution. Contact the official customer service number for confirmation.
• Avoid sharing sensitive information: Do not share personal information like bank details, Aadhaar number, or passwords with anyone over the phone, email, or video calls.
• Be cautious with unsolicited calls: If a caller claims you’re involved in illegal activities or owe money, it’s a red flag. Scammers often use urgent situations to manipulate victims.
• Use secure payment methods: Never transfer money or share banking details based on a phone call or email request. Always verify the authenticity before taking any action.