South Goa is reeling under a surge in online and offline frauds, with criminals employing increasingly sophisticated tactics to dupe citizens. Cases span impersonation of officials, sham raids, bogus delivery schemes, cyber fraud and fake job offers, with vulnerable groups such as the elderly and women most at risk.
In several incidents, fraudsters targeted elderly persons walking alone, persuading them to hand over gold ornaments under the pretext of “safety” from thefts, only to swap them with worthless items. A man in Fatorda lost his gold ring on 15 July 2025, while similar cases were reported elsewhere in the district. In Shiroda, a resident was cheated of Rs 3.35 lakh on 9 July 2025 by criminals who used fake ID cards and forged documents to bolster their impersonation.
In Cuncolim, a resident was duped of Rs 98,000 by a fraudster posing as a delivery agent, who first demanded a small deposit for confirmation before siphoning off larger sums. A Collem resident lost Rs 1 lakh to individuals impersonating Customs officers, who fabricated allegations of money laundering and trafficking, threatening to escalate the case to Delhi Police and the CBI unless money was paid for “legalisation.”
A Bamonsai, Sanguem resident was conned out of Rs 3.32 lakh in November 2024 through a fake Canada job advertisement circulated on Facebook. Victims were asked to submit CVs via WhatsApp and pay various fees. Similarly, a Curchorem woman lost Rs 2 lakh to fraudsters impersonating Delhi Police on a WhatsApp video call, who claimed her Aadhaar was linked to fraudulent transactions and coerced her into transferring money to ‘clear her name’.
In Canacona, a woman was cheated of Rs 3 lakh after a caller posing as a telecom company staffer warned her number would be banned. A second fraudster, claiming to be from the CBI, alleged her SIM and bank accounts were linked to human trafficking and forced her to transfer money to a so-called “government merchant navy account.”
Police have also booked two men who impersonated government officers from the “Jeevan Help Council, Ministry of Corporate Affairs” using fake IDs to book a room without following procedure. An offence was registered under sections 319(2), 303(2) read with 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The accused were arrested but later released on bail.
Meanwhile, Quepem police registered a cyber fraud case where a woman was conned by an imposter posing as a Jio Customer Care executive, who claimed her Aadhaar had been misused. She was tricked into transferring Rs 38,169 via Google Pay.
In this case, however, police successfully recovered the full amount.
A senior police officer confirmed that South Goa Police are actively investigating the incidents and intensifying awareness drives such as the Cyber Surakshit Goem campaign to educate the public. Police stations have been holding interactive sessions with taxi drivers, students, parents and market vendors, offering guidance on how to avoid scams.
The officer cautioned citizens to verify the identity of anyone claiming to be an official, especially when money or personal details are requested. “Be sceptical of those using fake IDs or forged documents. Never share confidential details such as ATM PINs, OTPs, or bank account information over the phone or via suspicious links. Do not make payments for jobs, deliveries, or services without proper verification. Be cautious of deals that seem ‘too good to be true’ or any situation that creates urgency and fear,” he warned.
Police urged residents to approach their local stations for cyber awareness programmes and stressed that community vigilance is crucial to combating the fraud wave.