NEW DELHI: It was an extraordinary cybercrime. Vishal Kumar (name changed), a resident of Munirka in southwest Delhi, was going about his day on December 30, 2023, when at precisely 8:43 am, his phone rang.
“Hello, is this Vishal Kumar?” the caller inquired. “Yes, who’s calling?” Vishal responded. “Mr. Vishal, your FedEx Parcel has been detained at Mumbai Customs due to illicit documents discovered within: 4 passports, 4 credit cards, 1 laptop, 4 kg of clothing, and 200 grams of MDMA,” the caller disclosed.
Vishal was taken aback, having not visited Mumbai in over a year. Inquiring about the sender’s address, he learned the packages were dispatched from Mumbai using his Aadhar card and mobile number, as per sources.
The caller, a fraudster, then connected Vishal to the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Anxious, Vishal remained on the line. “We must verify if your Aadhar card has been misused for illicit transactions,” he was informed, instructed not to disconnect.
Listening in, Vishal overheard the conversation, realizing his Aadhar details were being scrutinized for money laundering and drug-related activities.
“This is grave, Mr. Vishal. We require further investigation. Connect with the Mumbai Crime Branch via Skype,” instructed the caller, providing a routing number. Posing as an officer, the fraudster interrogated Vishal for hours, claiming further questioning waited from Delhi Police. Before proceeding, Vishal was asked to read a letter.
Sent via Skype, the letter, bearing the Mumbai Police Crime Branch letterhead, declared his involvement in the investigation. The cyber con game neared its end. Vishal was instructed to transfer funds, assuring reimbursement post-investigation. To enhance credibility, they demanded the exact sum, warning discrepancies could escalate his situation. Digitally held captive for over four hours, Vishal succumbed, transferring the funds.