Bengaluru residents are falling prey to an elaborate scam involving impersonation of FedEx employees and law enforcement officials, resulting in significant financial losses. In the latest incident, a 52-year-old businessman from HSR Layout lost Rs 1.98 crore. The scam typically begins with a call from an individual posing as a FedEx courier, informing the victim about a package containing illegal substances intercepted in their name. The call is then transferred to a fake “cybercrime branch of the Mumbai police,” creating fear and anxiety.
In this case, the victim was coerced into transferring a substantial sum to a fraudulent account to supposedly verify allegations of money laundering. The scamsters maintained continuous contact with the victim and even engaged his wife in a separate call. The businessman realized he had been duped after transferring the colossal amount.
Bengaluru has witnessed a surge in FedEx courier fraud cases, with 163 reported cases resulting in a total loss exceeding Rs 5 crore this year till August. The city also accounts for a concerning 73.4% of the total cybercrime cases reported across 19 metropolitan cities in 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Another financial scam in the city involves an ‘online job’ scam targeting individuals with promises of lucrative opportunities, leading victims to financial distress through deceitful means.
