CBIC sounds alarm on Fake Online Trader Scam

CBIC sounds alarm on Fake Online Trader Scam

#Beware of Free gifts & huge discounts!

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in order to spread awareness about fake online trader scam, time and again tools steps to beware people.

Customs officials have warned people against a rising number of online frauds where foreigners befriend people and promise them cash or gifts, only if they pay ‘Custom Duty’ in advance.

The CBIC has reiterated that the Indian Customs never call or send SMS for paying in a personal bank account. All communication from Indian Customs contains a Document Identification Number (DIN) which is a unique number and can be verified at https://ift.tt/2WMRs3k.

For instance if any person receives an SMS wherein it is stated “parcel of designer bags at 80% off has arrived, and you have to pay a small amount of customs duty to collect it.”

The officials have also come across cases where the fraudsters have told the victims that they are sending them gifts, which are worth lakhs, and all they have to do to receive it is pay the Customs fee.

Examples of cases :

Forty-nine-year-old Ramesh (name changed) received a friend request on Facebook from a foreigner few days back. He accepted it and ended up exchanging phone numbers. In less than a week, they were regularly chatting and talking with each other. Soon, the foreigner told Ramesh that he owns a firm that is donating money to help people deal with the coronavirus crisis.

As his new friend offered him money, Ramesh readily accepted it. However, there was a catch. The foreigner told him that according to the rules, he has to pay Customs Duty on the money. Ramesh transferred Rs 70,000, hoping he will get lakhs in return. But within minutes of the transfer, the foreigner ‘friend’ disappeared. Ramesh was robbed in a matter of minutes.

This is one of the most common practices which scammers are using during the pandemic to cheat the common man. In the last three months, the Customs has received over 100 calls wherein people have complained of being duped online in the name of getting donations and gifts.

To make it look real, they also send fake certificates and receipts. The drill is to first make friends, attract them with sweet talks, and then make them believe that they are actually sending gifts or donations worth lakhs.

“In most cases, they have asked the victims to pay Rs 35,000 to Rs 70,000 as Custom charges. In some cases, it has even gone up to Rs 1.5 lakh. Once the person transfers the money into the given account, it is immediately transferred into a different account so that a dispute can’t be raised,” said a Customs official.

The Board said that such messages are fake and they just try to befool people so as to gain wrongfully in the name of the custom department.

The department has also requested people to be aware of such online frauds.

Tags: Custom

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