Sambalpur: IT Employee Narrowly Escapes Cyber Fraudsters’ Trap; Scam Attempted in the Name of Parcel Cancellation

Sambalpur: Aditi Mohapatra, an IT professional from Sambalpur, recently experienced a terrifying encounter with cyber fraudsters. Despite being aware of cyber scams and regularly reading news about online fraud, she unknowingly fell into a digital trap for over two hours. Fortunately, her timely awareness helped her escape a major cybercrime.

A few days ago, at around 10:30 AM, Aditi received a call from an unknown number: +9789083858. Normally, she avoids answering international or suspicious numbers, but she picked up the call absentmindedly. Immediately after, she received a message stating that her parcel had been canceled. The message prompted her to click on a link for more details. Upon clicking, she was connected to a person who introduced himself as Kunal Nanda.

A False Accusation of Illegal Parcel Shipment

Kunal Nanda informed Aditi that a parcel had been sent from Mumbai to Thailand in her name. He claimed that someone might have misused her Aadhaar card or other documents to commit this crime. He advised her to file an immediate complaint, warning that the parcel could contain illegal substances like drugs. He then connected her to another number, supposedly a higher authority.

Fake Police Intervention and Psychological Manipulation

The second person on the call, who spoke in a serious tone like a police officer, listened to Aditi’s complaint in detail. He then asked her to download Skype to continue the conversation securely. Once on Skype, another person joined the call, posing as an even higher authority. This third fraudster asked Aditi about her full name, her parents’ names, her profession, age, and address.

Creating Fear and Demanding Bank Details

Aditi, feeling anxious about being falsely implicated, provided some of her details. The fraudsters continued to manipulate her psychologically, even sending pictures of supposed cybercriminal gangs to intimidate her. They told her she had to prove she was not involved with this gang by providing her bank account details. Initially, she gave them only the last four digits of her account number. However, when they asked for complete banking details, she became suspicious.

Realization and Escape from the Trap

Aditi refused to share more information, but the fraudsters escalated their threats. They claimed they would arrest her parents and family members if she did not cooperate. Sensing the scam, Aditi decided not to respond online anymore. Instead, she said she would report the issue directly in Mumbai. This response led to an unexpected shift in the conversation.

Fraudsters’ Desperation and Final Attempt

When Aditi mentioned reporting the case in person, the fraudsters changed their approach and started using inappropriate language. This confirmed her suspicion that no real police officer would behave that way. Realizing the fraud, she immediately disconnected the call.

Final Action: Reporting the Incident

From 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM, Aditi remained trapped in this cyber fraud scheme. After realizing the scam, she promptly reported the incident to the cybercrime helpline.

A Lesson in Cyber Awareness

Aditi’s experience serves as a strong reminder to stay vigilant against cyber scams. She urges others to be cautious, avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never share personal or banking details with unknown callers. If faced with a similar situation, reporting to cyber authorities immediately is the best course of action.