Sambalpur: Victims Tricked by Cyber Fraudster, Lose ₹10 Lakhs in Fake Parcel Scam
Sambalpur: A shocking cyber fraud case has come to light in Sambalpur, where two individuals were tricked into losing ₹10 lakhs under the pretense of a fake parcel with illegal items. Initially, the fraudsters scared the victims by claiming that their packages contained illegal items. After gaining their trust by offering assistance, they were able to extract large sums of money.
How the Scam Unfolded
On Wednesday, Vivek Sharma from Uttar Pradesh, who works for Tata Power in Burla, and Mahendra Dharua from Pune, who also lives in Burla, were targeted. According to reports, they received a computerized call informing them that their parcel delivery was delayed due to heavy rain, and they were told to press 1 to speak with an agent. Vivek was curious about the parcel, so he pressed 1 and was connected to someone who claimed it contained illegal items.
Details of the Fake Parcel
The caller claimed that the parcel, addressed to Rizwan Ahmed in Iran, contained five expired passports, three credit cards, two laptops, $900, and 350 grams of MDMA (a narcotic). The caller also claimed that Vivek’s ID was being used illegally to send the parcel. He was advised to report the incident to Mumbai Cyber Crime.
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Manipulative Tactics
Vivek complied out of fear and trust in the caller. The fraudster introduced another accomplice, posing as a cybercrime officer, who told Vivek to download the Skype app from the Play Store. The fraudsters used this app to obtain his name, mobile number, Aadhaar number, and address. Later, the fake constable claimed that a gang used his Aadhaar-linked bank account for money laundering. He then introduced Vivek to another fraudster posing as an inspector.
Draining the Victims’ Accounts
The fake inspector instructed Vivek to open the ICICI Bank app, check his balance, and take a pre-approved loan of ₹7.80 lakh. After verification, Vivek accepted the loan, knowing that the money would be returned to his account. A cyber gang stole ₹6,99,490 from the victim’s account through multiple transactions. When Vivek discovered the fraud, he reported it to the Cyber Helpline Number 1930 and later filed a written complaint at the Sambalpur Cyber Police Station. The police have opened a case and launched an investigation.
Another Victim in Burla
Similarly, Mahendra Dharua from Pune, who lives in Burla, fell victim to the same scam. The fraudsters stole ₹2,95,000 from his account using similar tactics. They claimed his package included 5 kg of medicine, 450 grams of MDMA, a hard drive, and expired passports. Like Vivek, Mahendra filed a written complaint with the Sambalpur Cyber Police Station. The police have filed another case and are investigating this incident as well.
