• Creating emotional attachment through a fake matrimonial profile.
• Fabricating an urgent situation involving a parcel and customs clearance.
• Impersonating officials to make demands seem legitimate.
• Escalating financial pressure using legal threats.

Case 1: Pune Software Engineer Duped Through Fake Parcel Scam

A 36-year-old software engineer from Pune, who was seeking a life partner, registered on a well-known matrimonial website. She had been looking for a suitable match when she was approached by a man claiming to be an NRI looking for marriage.

The Scam Unfolds

Step 1: Establishing Contact and Gaining Trust

On September 4, the victim received a message from a man who presented himself as a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) with serious matrimonial intentions. Over the next couple of days, he built a rapport with her through frequent conversations, expressing deep interest in getting married soon.

Step 2: Fake Parcel and Customs Call

By September 6, the scammer claimed to have sent her a special package as a token of their growing relationship. The victim was thrilled, as this gesture reinforced her trust in the scammer.

On September 8, she received a call from an individual pretending to be a customs officer from New Delhi. This person informed her that a parcel addressed to her had arrived but required a payment of ₹32,700 to clear customs. Believing the story, she promptly transferred the requested amount to the given bank account.

Step 3: Increasing Financial Demands

Shortly after the first payment, the fraudsters escalated the scam. The supposed customs officer called again, stating that the parcel contained a large sum of cash and that she could face legal trouble unless additional payments were made to process the package legally. Over the next five days, she was manipulated into transferring a total of ₹29.2 lakh to multiple bank accounts under various pretenses.

Step 4: Realization and Legal Action

As demands continued, the victim grew suspicious and sought advice from a friend. Realizing she had been deceived, she immediately approached the police and filed a complaint. The case was registered under fraud-related sections of the Indian Penal Code.