Man posing as CBI officer cheats Bengaluru lawyer of `15L, makes her strip for ‘drug test’

A29-year-oldbengalurulawyer has become the latest victim of the Fedex scam, with a fraudster posingasacbiofficercheatingher ofaround`15lakhandforcingher to strip on video call for a “narcotics test”, police said Tuesday.

The woman, in her complaint to police, said the fraudsters targeted her repeatedly through phone and video calls over the course of around 35 hours, from 2.15 pm on April 3 to 1.15 am on April 5. This episode, too, began in thesamemannerasothercourier scam cases. The complainant receivedacall,purportedlyfromthe courier company Fedex, informing her of a parcel of illicit substances supposedly sent in her name to Thailand.

A police official said the call swiftly transitioned to an individual masquerading as a Mumbai policeman, who coerced her into downloadingskypeandinitiating a chat. Subsequently, a person identifying himself as a CBI officer namedabhishekchauhanjoined the call. He accused the lawyer of involvementinhumantrafficking, money laundering and identity theft, pressuring her into revealing personal information including her bank and Aadhaar details.

Under the guise of “official procedure”, this “CBI officer” cautioned her against disclosing any information to anyone, even law enforcement.thewomanalleged that the fake officer forced her to keep the video call switched on and share her screen for the remainder of April 3, even during the night. The next day, she was instructed to transfer money to a designated account, purportedly forverificationofhertransactions.

The situation escalated on April 5 after 1 am when this “CBI officer” forced her to strip on Skype call for what he claimed was a “narcotics test”. The lawyer wasthreatenedwitharrest,harm to her family and exposure of the video on the dark web.

The lawyer finally informed police in the night. Police subsequentlyregisteredacaseofcheatingandextortion.fedexhasmade itclearthatitdoesnotrequestpersonal information through unsolicited calls or emails on goods.

It said in a recent statement: “Fedex does not request personal information through unsolicited phone calls, mail, or email for goods being shipped or held, unless requested or initiated by customers. If any individual receives any suspicious phone calls or messages, they are advised not to provide their personal information. Instead, they should contact the local law enforcement authorities.”