Dehradun — The Special Task Force (STF) Uttarakhand’s Cyber Crime Unit has dismantled an international parcel fraud racket, arresting three African nationals from Punjab. Officials said the accused defrauded a Dehradun resident and his family of ₹89,11,297 between June 14 and June 29, 2025, using elaborate social media scams, fake parcel-tracking websites, and forged documents.
The Arrests and Operation
The arrested individuals were identified as:
- Henry Jerry (alias Don Jerry), resident of Accra, Ghana (currently in Mohali, Punjab)
- Nakigozi Feeza, resident of Kampala, Uganda (currently in Mohali, Punjab and Delhi)
- Elizabeth, resident of Kampala, Uganda (currently in Mohali, Punjab and Delhi)
The STF recovered three mobile phones, two laptops, one passport, one Indian e-Visa, and several suspicious documents, including forged customs clearance receipts and anti-money laundering certificates.
The arrests were made under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) after extensive digital forensics and interstate pursuit across Delhi and Punjab.
Modus Operandi: Fake Profiles, Parcel Scams, and Threats
According to investigators, the accused created fake Facebook profiles, posing as professionals from Royal Infirmary, Bristol, and Abbott Pharmaceuticals under names such as Sara Walter, Elizabeth Charles, and Frank/Farak.
After befriending the victim online, they lured him into a bogus herbal seed export deal, using:
- Fake parcel tracking websites
- Impersonation of customs/logistics agents
- Demands for repeated payments towards “scanning fees,” “gold license,” “currency conversion charges,” “insurance,” “GST,” and “customs clearance”
When the victim hesitated to pay further, the fraudsters impersonated national cyber security officials and police officers, threatening false legal cases unless additional payments were made.
Funds were split across multiple bank accounts and routed through hawala-like channels.
Investigation and Digital Forensics
The case originated from a July 2025 complaint by a Dehradun resident. Given the scale of fraud, STF Chief Navneet Singh directed immediate investigation under the supervision of Additional SP Swapn Kishore Singh, ASP Kush Mishra, DySP Ankush Mishra, and Inspector Vikas Bhardwaj.
The Cyber Crime Police coordinated with banks, telecom operators, domain hosting companies, and Meta Platforms to obtain digital evidence. Analysis revealed extensive use of WhatsApp chats, Facebook Messenger logs, fake parcel domains, and multiple bank accounts linked to the accused.
Preliminary inquiry revealed that the accused managed crores of rupees in transactions within months, with complaints filed against them in multiple states across India. Coordination with other state police units is ongoing.
Official Warnings and Public Advisory
STF Uttarakhand emphasized that cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting:
- Investment scams on YouTube, Telegram, and fake websites
- Parcel frauds promising international shipments
- Fake government/cybersecurity official impersonations
SSP Navneet Singh appealed to citizens:
- Avoid engaging with strangers on social media.
- Do not trust offers of doubling money or easy profits.
- Verify job offers and websites before applying.
- Never search for customer care numbers on Google.
- Report suspicious activities immediately to the nearest police station or cybercrime unit.
- For financial cyber frauds, contact the helpline 1930 without delay.
Broader Context
This case highlights the growing threat of cross-border cybercrime networks using India as a target market. By exploiting trust, technology, and fake digital infrastructure, international fraudsters have siphoned crores from unsuspecting victims.
The operation demonstrates the increasing role of digital forensics, interstate collaboration, and I4C (Indian Cyber Coordination Centre) portal integration in cracking such cases. The STF has confirmed that all data from this operation will be uploaded to the I4C platform to identify all-India linkages.
