Hyderabad: Courier scams, now a rising threat, involve fraudsters impersonating legitimate delivery services to deceive individuals. As a remedial measure, officials are urging heightened awareness to avoid falling prey to such devious schemes.
There are typically two types of scams involving unknown callers pretending to be officials from the airport authority.
In the first type, they ask for administrative charges for a parcel received from abroad, calling from different states to avoid verification. It's a mind game to confuse people and the culprits are always ready to trap potential victims.
In the second type, the fraudsters directly target one’s reputation, claiming drugs were ordered in their name. They demand immediate payment or face an inquiry, inducing panic. Many fall prey out of fear and end up losing lakhs. The situation is so alarming that up to 20 such cases are being reported at police stations every week.
People are advised to question if they've ordered anything and report such incidents to the nearest police station, said cyber expert Praveen Tangella.
In a recent incident in Hyderabad, a victim received a call from Delhi police, confirming a drug package under her name. Initially she was shocked and was reluctant but on being warned of an immediate inquiry, she coughed up Rs two lakh to avoid the consequences.
“We are seeing an increase in courier scams. It is crucial that individuals verify with the service provider whenever any fraudulent call comes directly because they are becoming more sophisticated. It is important to note the pattern of incoming calls, as fraudulent calls often begin with numbers starting with either 7 or 8. Promptly reporting to the police can help in tracking and preventing such scams. Staying vigilant, verifying courier communications, and reporting suspicious incidents promptly will help us to track the accused,” said Cyberabad cyber crime ACP Rama Chandra Reddy
