A 32-year-old woman became the latest victim of an online gift scam after she befriended a person on social media who claimed to be a UK resident employed on a merchant ship (Prime Cargo Shipping). The victim, residing in Mumbai’s Andheri (East) area, was duped off Rs4.29 lakhs that she has paid to collect the gift that claimed to have got stuck at the Delhi airport customs.
Andheri police probing the case is tracking down the caller, a woman, who warned the complainant of getting into trouble if she does not pay Rs 3.19 lakhs for the gift box that contained undeclared valuables.
The fraud occurred on July 29 when the complainant received the call from a woman who claimed to be from the customs and informed that a parcel has been confiscated with them for not declaring it.
“We have sought details from the bank to get the money trails to locate the scammer. Meanwhile, the cyber police team is also tracking the case. In this case, the scammer identified himself as John from London sent a friend’s request on the complainant’s Instagram which she accepted,” said a police officer of the Andheri police station.
A day after the complainant accepted the scammer’s friend’s request, he called and asked for her communication address.
In the complaint, she said, “I was against sending the gift. But the person claimed that he has already sent the gift parcel and asked me to pay 1500 US dollars as fees to collect it. On July 29 morning, a woman claimed to be from customs told about the undeclared gift lying with them and threatened action if does not pay Rs3.19 lakhs fine.”
A police officer said the complainant first transferred Rs1,18,118 and Rs3,19,000 from another account and another Rs50,000 and Rs60,114 respectively. She realised being duped when the scammers demanded another Rs5.69 lakhs towards income tax for receiving the parcel.
Surjitt Sahani
