Cyber crime police issue advisory against foreign cyber frauds targeting doctors in U’khand
Wednesday, 23 August 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
In view of several cyber complaints related to FedEx parcels or customised parcel service where people, especially doctors are being intimidated by some foreign cyber fraudsters, the cyber crime police station of Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has issued a cyber advisory. Most of the complaints about such frauds were filed by the doctors of Max Hospital, Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) hospital and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh, said the deputy superintendent of police of the STF cyber crime police station Ankush Mishra. Informing about the modus operandi of such fraudsters, he said that the cyber frauds pretending to be an officer from an airport or immigration checkpost call people and tell them that they have seized their FedEx parcel or customised parcel that contains illegal drugs or other prohibited items like fake passport or visa among others.
To threaten and intimidate people, they claim that they have handed over all contents of the parcel to the police and ask them to send them money if they need legal assistance for fighting their case, said Mishra. He said that they even send fake government notices to the victim to make their claims believable to intimidate them more. Fearing legal consequences and embarrassment, many victims ended up paying lakhs to crores of rupees in such frauds. The DSP said that many victims are also honey trapped via foreign nationals on Facebook and Instagram where the fraudsters promise to send a parcel with jewellery/import-export goods. After that the process mentioned above is repeated with them to make them believe that they have actually received a customised parcel from abroad.
The STF also arrested many Nigerians and Cameroon nationals in 2021 and 2022. Besides this, authorities also took legal action against eight Nigerian accused who were reportedly involved in similar cases which was one of the biggest operations in the country. Mishra said that one must remember certain points to stay safe from such frauds. He asks not to accept a friend request or a follow request from unknown people on social media. One should also never trust unknown people on social media claiming to send them gifts.
If one receives a call where the caller claims to be calling from a FedEx parcel or customised parcel service or airport, do not panic or send them money in the name of legal assistance. One should refrain from sharing any personal identification documents with unknown persons on social media irrespective of their claims. Mishra said that one should immediately report to the police if they come across such threats or call at 1930 for assistance regarding financial fraud.
