In Jaipur, a new type of cybercrime is making headlines. Fraudsters are sending what look like ordinary courier coupons or delivery slips to random homes. Many people, seeing a courier notice or coupon addressed to them, get curious and call the number listed.
This innocent-looking piece of paper soon turns into a nightmare. On the other end of the line is a scammer pretending to be an employee from a well-known courier company. They claim that a parcel sent in your name has been held up for containing suspicious or illegal items like drugs, fake passports, or even gold smuggling equipment.
Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement Officers
Once the victim expresses concern, the scam gets darker. The scammer connects the caller to someone posing as a customs officer, police official, or narcotics agent. Victims are then subjected to serious-sounding video calls where fake documents, arrest warrants, and legal papers are shown on-screen.
The fraudsters use fear tactics — threatening arrest, police raids, and public exposure — to pressure victims into transferring money as a fine, legal fee, or security deposit to settle the issue. In some cases, victims have paid from ₹1.3 lakh to ₹5 lakh. In earlier incidents in other cities, the scam cost some victims over ₹4 crore.
Victims Caught in a Web of Fear and Panic
Police officials explained that victims, usually middle-class individuals and professionals, fall prey due to the clever mix of technology and psychological pressure. The scam uses courier services to establish trust and then switches to video calls for added seriousness.
Scammers often demand personal identification like Aadhaar, PAN details, and bank information during the call. In some cases, they ask victims to click suspicious links or open remote access apps, leading to complete financial fraud.
How to Stay Safe from This New-Age Scam
Cybercrime experts have warned people to stay alert and follow these safety tips:
-
Ignore any unknown courier calls or unexpected delivery slips.
-
Never share Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, or OTP over phone/video calls.
-
Legitimate courier companies never demand legal fines or threaten arrest.
-
Report suspicious calls immediately to 155260 or cybercrime.gov.in.
Authorities have urged citizens to verify any such claims directly with courier companies using their official helpline numbers, and to avoid responding to threatening or high-pressure calls.
Cyber experts say this scam is part of a growing trend of fraudsters using psychological manipulation alongside technology. People are advised to spread awareness within their families and workplace circles to prevent others from falling victim.