Bengaluru: A 40-year-old female software engineer from Bengaluru, Karnataka, fell victim to the ‘FedEx’ scam, losing Rs 1 crore to cybercriminals within a span of two days.
The scammers ensnared her by claiming she was implicated in a “digital arrest,” initially informing her of a package purportedly containing illegal substances sent under her name. Pretending to be law enforcement officials, they pressured her into making numerous money transfers.
Living in NRI Layout near Ramamurthynagar in Bengaluru East, the victim received a call from an unidentified number on the morning of May 16. The caller, posing as a FedEx logistics executive, informed her that a package addressed to Taiwan under her name had been intercepted at Mumbai airport. The caller alleged that the package contained 200 grams of MDMA, multiple passports, and clothing, leading to a customs investigation.
After the initial conversation, she received another call from someone claiming to be a Customs officer. This heightened her anxiety as she was accused of involvement in a narcotics case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
According to reports, the scammers employed elaborate tactics to manipulate her. They instructed her to participate in a Skype call, isolate herself in a room, and avoid contacting anyone.
During the Skype conversation, they obtained personal information such as her Aadhaar number and conducted what appeared to be an official interrogation, creating a simulated environment resembling a police station. Despite her protests of innocence, they accused her of having bank accounts linked to money laundering activities.
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Taking advantage of her vulnerability, the scammers portrayed the situation as a high-profile case, pressuring her to transfer funds to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) accounts for supposed verification, with promises of legalizing her assets afterward.
Under duress, she found herself ensnared by their demands, transferring Rs 16 lakh to an account during a WhatsApp call, followed by an additional Rs 75 lakh while being closely monitored at her bank. Upon returning home, she was coerced into transferring an additional Rs 9.3 lakh.
Hoping that her funds would be returned after the purported verification, which never happened, she eventually realized that she had fallen victim to a scam. The following day, she reported the incident to the police, who launched an investigation after she filed a case, as reported by the publication.
While the term itself is fictitious, it is linked to the practice of digitally monitoring a person through audio-video calls. During such calls, the person is typically not allowed to disconnect, and they may not be aware that they are being monitored.
In this scenario, cybercriminals deceive or pressure individuals into thinking they are under investigation or facing legal issues. They frequently pose as officials from government agencies such as the police, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Narcotics Department, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), or Enforcement Directorate (ED).
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