Mangaluru: A 54-year-old woman from Mangaluru has allegedly been cheated of ₹29 lakh by cyber fraudsters who befriended her on Facebook and convinced her to pay various charges for the release of a parcel purportedly containing gold and foreign currency sent from the Netherlands.

The incident has once again highlighted the growing threat of international parcel scams, in which fraudsters use social media platforms to gain the trust of victims before extracting large sums of money through false promises and fabricated claims.

Friendship on Facebook turns into fraud

According to a complaint registered at the CEN Crime Police Station, the woman came into contact with a man identifying himself as Dr Clinton Smith, who claimed to be a cardiologist based in the Netherlands. The acquaintance began through Facebook in May 2025 and gradually developed through regular conversations on WhatsApp.

Police said the accused allegedly built a rapport with the woman over several months and eventually informed her that he had sent a parcel containing gold and a large amount of US dollars to her address in India.

Trusting the individual and believing his claims to be genuine, the woman continued communicating with him and awaited the delivery of the parcel.

Fraudsters pose as customs officials

Shortly after being informed about the parcel, the woman reportedly received calls and messages from individuals who introduced themselves as customs officials and airport authorities.

The callers claimed that the parcel had arrived in India but was being held at Delhi International Airport due to customs-related issues. They allegedly demanded payments towards customs duty, storage fees, clearance charges and other processing expenses to facilitate the release of the parcel.

The fraudsters repeatedly assured the woman that the parcel contained valuable items, including gold and foreign currency, and would be delivered once the necessary payments were made.

Victim transfers ₹29 lakh

Believing the claims to be legitimate, the woman transferred money in multiple transactions to various bank accounts provided by the accused persons.

According to the complaint, she paid a total of ₹29 lakh over a period of time towards the alleged customs and clearance charges. The fraudsters reportedly continued demanding money by citing new reasons and additional expenses related to the parcel’s release.

The accused later informed her that the parcel would be forwarded to Mangaluru International Airport and delivered shortly. However, despite repeated assurances, the parcel never arrived.

Realisation leads to police complaint

After several unsuccessful attempts to contact the accused and obtain information about the parcel, the woman began to suspect that she had been deceived.

When the promised delivery failed to materialise and communication from the fraudsters became irregular, she realised that she had fallen victim to a cyber fraud scheme.

She subsequently approached the CEN Crime Police Station and lodged a formal complaint detailing the sequence of events and the financial losses she had suffered.

Police launch investigation

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation into the fraud. Authorities are examining the bank accounts used to receive the funds and are attempting to trace the individuals involved in the scam.

Cybercrime investigators are also analysing digital communication records, including social media and messaging platform interactions, to identify the accused and determine the extent of the fraud network.

Officials have urged the public to remain vigilant while interacting with unknown individuals on social media platforms and to avoid transferring money based on promises of gifts, foreign parcels or lottery winnings.

Rising concern over parcel scams

Cybercrime experts note that international parcel scams have become increasingly common in recent years. Fraudsters often impersonate professionals, foreign nationals or government officials to establish credibility and manipulate victims into making payments.

Police have advised citizens to verify claims independently and report suspicious communications immediately. They have also stressed that genuine customs authorities do not demand payments through personal bank accounts or informal channels.

Conclusion

The alleged ₹29 lakh fraud serves as a reminder of the sophisticated tactics employed by cybercriminals to exploit trust and extract money from unsuspecting individuals. Authorities continue to investigate the case and have urged the public to exercise caution when dealing with strangers online and offers that appear too good to be true.