In Bengaluru, a concerning trend has emerged as cybercriminals exploit the reputable name of logistics giant DHL to deceive and extort money from unsuspecting individuals. Since early February, the city has witnessed at least half-a-dozen reported cases of this fraudulent activity, with victims facing substantial financial losses.
One such victim, Mahira (name changed), a 41-year-old resident of Diamond District on HAL Airport Road, fell prey to the scam, losing a staggering Rs 34.5 lakh on March 17. The ordeal began with an alarming call from an unknown number at 8:12 am. The caller claimed to be a DHL executive from Mumbai, providing detailed information such as Mahira’s name, Aadhaar card, and mobile number. Exploiting her trust, the fraudster alleged that a parcel addressed to her contained illegal substances and passports bound for Shanghai.
To exacerbate the ruse, the caller insisted that Mahira remain on the line until she was connected to the Andheri East police station in Mumbai. A purported officer, Rajesh Pradan, identified as DCP of the crime branch, engaged her in a virtual interrogation via Skype. Displaying what appeared to be legitimate credentials and a police station backdrop, Pradan coerced Mahira into believing her bank account, linked to her Aadhaar card, was compromised.
In a state of panic, Mahira was coerced into transferring funds totaling Rs 34.5 lakh to purported government notary accounts provided by the fraudster. Similarly, Sadiq (name changed), a 37-year-old architect from CV Raman Nagar, fell victim to the same deception on February 15, resulting in a loss of Rs 9 lakh.
Both Mahira and Sadiq endured psychological manipulation, with Mahira subjected to a nine-hour digital ‘arrest’ and Sadiq confined to his home for four hours. Mahira lodged a police complaint on March 19, and Sadiq followed suit on February 15. Law enforcement authorities stress the importance of immediate disconnection from such calls and prompt reporting to the nearest police station or contacting helplines such as 112 (police helpline) or 1930 (cyber helpline) to prevent falling victim to these scams.
