Bengaluru
An unsettling incident has been reported in the city where fraudsters targeted and extorted Rs. 13 lakh from a 62-year-old woman, Priya (name changed), residing in Palmgrove Road, Victoria Layout. The unsuspecting woman fell victim to a fraudulent scheme that involved coercing her with threats regarding a purported parcel containing illegal substances and personal documentation. The scam unfolded when the woman received a call from an individual claiming to be an executive of a reputed Mumbai-based courier company. The caller alleged that a parcel, supposedly dispatched by her, had been intercepted, containing 140 grams of MDMA, eight passports, and five credit cards, all intended for Thailand. Despite the woman’s denial of having sent any such parcel, the fraudsters cunningly used her Aadhaar card number to manipulate her into believing their story. The fake executive further intensified the pressure by claiming that the customs officials had seized the parcel and insisted on involving the Mumbai Cyber Crime Police in the matter. Additionally, the woman was coerced into downloading Skype and providing personal information through a sent link. Subsequently, she was directed to transfer a substantial amount of money to a specified account. Trusting the fraudulent instructions, the woman visited the bank the following day and obediently transferred the requested sum. However, as soon as the money was deposited into the specified account, the scammers swiftly erased all traces of their identities. This distressing incident highlights the alarming tactics employed by scammers to exploit innocent individuals through deceptive and coercive methods, causing substantial financial harm and psychological distress. Law enforcement agencies have been urged to investigate and take measures to prevent such fraudulent activities from further victimizing unsuspecting citizens.
