- A Bengaluru software engineer loses Rs 2.24 crore to scammers impersonating officials.
- The fraudsters claimed a parcel addressed to the victim contained drugs and demanded money to resolve the case.
- Similar cases have surfaced, totaling Rs 4 crore in losses, highlighting the prevalence of cybercrime.
In a troubling incident, a 52-year-old software engineer from Bengaluru fell victim to a sophisticated scam orchestrated by individuals posing as officials from the Customs and Narcotics Control Bureau. Over the course of several days in March, the scammers convinced the engineer that an air parcel addressed to him contained illegal substances, including ecstasy tablets.
Under the guise of resolving the fabricated case, the scammers coerced the victim into transferring a staggering sum of Rs 2.24 crore through RTGS and IMPS. It wasn’t until April 5 that the engineer realized he had been duped and subsequently filed a complaint with the Bengaluru North East Cyber Crime Police Station. Shockingly, this incident is not isolated, as police sources revealed 25 similar cases filed in the same station, with victims collectively losing Rs 4 crore to similar scams.
This alarming trend underscores the growing threat of cybercrime and the need for heightened awareness and vigilance among internet users. As scams become increasingly sophisticated, it’s imperative for individuals to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of communications from purported officials or service providers to avoid falling prey to such fraudulent schemes.
