Chennai doctor duped of Rs 15 lakh in FedEx scam

The victim received a call from an individual claiming to be from FedEx's Mumbai office in mid-March. The caller informed the doctor that a parcel allegedly sent to Taiwan in his name contained illegal substances and he would have to face an investigation for the same, reports DT Next. The doctor was then connected to another individual who posed as a Mumbai police officer and threatened him with immediate arrest. 

The frauds managed to convince the doctor that the money in his bank accounts was considered illicit income. Through a series of coercive tactics, including a Skype video call, they persuaded him to transfer Rs 15.26 lakh in two instalments to accounts they controlled, reports the Daily. The funds, they claimed, were needed to undergo verification by the Reserve Bank of India. It was only after completing the transfers that the doctor realized, he had been scammed and promptly filed a complaint with the city police.

Upon receiving the complaint, the East Zone Cyber Crime unit launched an intensive investigation. The police traced the bank accounts, which led them to Jaipur, Rajasthan. A team of five officers, under the leadership of Inspector Padma Kumari, travelled to Jaipur and apprehended, who was operating a pharmacy below his residence.

Investigations revealed that he had been providing his bank accounts to the scammers for a commission, facilitating the transfer of illicit funds. “There was a transaction of over Rs 70 lakh in Vishal Kumar’s bank accounts in just two days,” a police officer said. Following his arrest, the culprit was presented before a magistrate in Jaipur. After securing a transit warrant, the Chennai police brought him back to Chennai where he was subsequently remanded in judicial custody.

According to the Daily, this arrest marks a significant step in Chennai police's ongoing efforts to combat financial fraud and cybercrime. The authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to prevent falling victim to such scams.