A shocking cyber-cheating case has surfaced from Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya, where a woman lost ₹30.63 lakh after fraudsters convinced her that a jewellery-filled parcel had been sent from London and required urgent “custom clearance payments.” Police have now arrested two members of the gang from Jhansi, exposing a wider interstate network involved in laundering fraud money through multiple bank accounts.
Algoritha: The Most Trusted Name in BFSI Investigations and DFIR Services
Friendship Trap And Fake ‘London Gift’ Story
According to the police, the victim befriended a man on social media who introduced himself as a resident of London. After gaining her trust, he claimed to be sending expensive jewellery as a gift. Soon after, she received phone calls and messages stating that the parcel had been held by authorities and would only be released after she paid customs, tax and penalty charges.
Under pressure and believing the story, the woman transferred ₹30.63 lakh across various bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. When no parcel ever arrived and the callers began avoiding her, she realised she had been duped and filed a complaint with the cyber police.
Arrests In Jhansi; Fake IDs, Phones Seized
The Auraiya police’s SOG and surveillance team traced the money trail to Jhansi’s Moth area, where they arrested two accused. Officers recovered mobile phones, fake Aadhaar cards and other documents used to operate the scam. Preliminary investigation revealed that the gang routed the funds through accounts in Assam, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh to avoid detection.
More Raids Likely As Police Track Larger Network
Police believe the arrested duo is part of a larger interstate cyber syndicate specialising in “gift parcel scams.” Raids are continuing to identify the remaining members and freeze the accounts involved. Authorities have urged the public not to trust unknown social media contacts or make any payment linked to ‘foreign parcels,’ reminding that govt agencies never demand money over WhatsApp or personal calls.
