A 41-year-old doctor from Hyderabad allegedly lost ₹6.07 lakh after a man claiming to be from South Korea befriended her online and persuaded her to pay repeated charges for a parcel that never arrived.
The Hyderabad Cybercrime Police have registered a case following her complaint and are investigating the alleged fraud.
How Did the Doctor Meet the Fraudster?
According to police, the complainant, a resident of Ameerpet, was searching for an application to improve her English and learn other languages on September 16, 2026.
During her search, she downloaded an application called “MEFF – Make Global Friends” from the Google Play Store.
A few days later, she received a message from a person identifying himself as Gil Seo Jun. After exchanging messages on the application, he asked for her WhatsApp number so they could continue their conversations.
Believing him to be genuine, she shared her number.
The man subsequently claimed that he lived in South Korea and planned to visit India. He told her that he wanted to send his luggage ahead of his arrival, allegedly containing $37,000 in cash and jewellery worth $1,200. He requested her residential address to receive the parcel, which she provided.
How Did the Fake Courier Scam Begin?
On October 6, the doctor received an email from someone claiming to represent an international courier service.
The email stated that a parcel sent by Gil Seo Jun from South Korea had arrived in her name. It directed her to a tracking website and demanded ₹69,650 towards customs clearance and release charges.
When she contacted Gil Seo Jun, he encouraged her to make the payment and promised to reimburse the amount after arriving in India.
Trusting his assurance, she transferred ₹69,650 through PhonePe from her Axis Bank account on October 8. However, the demands did not stop there.
How Did the Fraudsters Extract More Money?
Soon after the initial payment, the purported courier representatives informed the doctor that the parcel contained $37,000 and jewellery worth $1,200.
They demanded another ₹3,67,537 for additional clearance. When she questioned Gil Seo Jun, he again assured her that he would return the money after reaching India. Believing these promises, she continued transferring money through PhonePe using her Axis Bank account.
The subsequent payments included ₹30,000, ₹95,000 and two transfers of ₹50,000 each. She also transferred ₹50,000 from a family member’s Union Bank of India account.
Later, another email claimed that customs authorities had stopped the parcel and that further payment was necessary. The doctor subsequently transferred ₹1,07,537 and ₹1,54,940 from her Axis Bank account.
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When Did the Doctor Suspect Fraud?
After receiving the payments, the alleged courier representatives informed the doctor that the parcel would be delivered to her residence on October 11, 2026. However, no parcel arrived on the promised date.
When she contacted the senders, they demanded another ₹2,50,000, claiming that additional customs clearance charges remained unpaid.
By then, the doctor had already transferred substantial amounts without receiving the promised shipment. The repeated demands and failure to deliver the parcel raised her suspicions.
She eventually concluded that the person identifying himself as Gil Seo Jun and the individuals posing as courier representatives had deceived her. She refused to make any further payments.
What Action Have Police Taken?
After suspecting fraud, the doctor contacted the national cybercrime helpline, 1930, and reported the incident. She stated that she had lost a total of ₹6,07,127. The complainant also submitted details of the incident through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
She provided investigators with information relating to the suspected fraudsters, including the WhatsApp number, courier email address, tracking website and bank account details used to receive the payments.
Based on her complaint, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police registered a case.
The investigation is continuing.
What Does This Case Reveal About Online Fraud?
The incident illustrates how fraudsters can combine online friendship with fabricated courier and customs demands to obtain money from victims.
In this case, the alleged fraud began with a conversation on a language-learning and social networking application. It later developed into repeated requests for payments linked to a parcel that was never delivered.
The promised reimbursement and successive clearance demands allegedly persuaded the complainant to continue transferring funds.
The case highlights the risks of trusting an online acquaintance who promises to send valuable gifts or money but requires repeated payments before delivery. Claims involving overseas parcels, customs charges and reimbursement promises warrant independent verification. Requests for additional money after earlier payments should be treated with particular caution.
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