Woman Forced to Strip Online, Loses 15 Lakhs in FedEx Scam
A 29-year-old Bengaluru woman named Bhuvi was forced to undress in front of a camera and lost ?15 lakhs in a 36-hour-long call with the scammers in the latest FedEx Scam.
In a distressing incident highlighting the prevalence of scams, a 29-year-old woman from Bengaluru fell victim to the notorious FedEx scam, losing a staggering ?15 lakhs in the process. The incident sheds light on the ruthless tactics employed by scammers to exploit unsuspecting individuals.
The victim, identified as Bhuvi, a lawyer in a private firm in Bengaluru, was targeted by fraudsters posing as representatives of FedEx, the renowned courier company. On April 3, 2024, Bhuvi received a call from a scammer claiming that a package sent in her name to Thailand contained illicit drugs.
Under the guise of assisting her, the scammer connected Bhuvi to an individual posing as a "Mumbai police officer." Subsequently, Bhuvi was coerced into downloading Skype for a video call, during which the fraudster escalated the situation by alleging that her Aadhaar number was linked to serious crimes such as human trafficking and drug offenses.
The scam took a terrifying turn when Bhuvi was transferred to someone claiming to be a CBI officer named Abhishek Chauhan. Chauhan intimidated Bhuvi with dire consequences, including charges of human trafficking and money laundering, and demanded her bank details and balance as part of the supposed investigation.
In a harrowing ordeal lasting over 36 hours, Bhuvi was manipulated into transferring ?10.7 lakhs to a purported "CBI stipulated" account, with additional unauthorized transactions made using her credit card. The situation escalated further when Bhuvi was coerced into stripping naked under the guise of a mandatory drug test, with the scammers recording the humiliating act to extort more money.
Fearing for her safety and that of her family, Bhuvi bravely sought help from the authorities, prompting an investigation by the Bengaluru Police and Cyber Crime branch.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by sophisticated scams, with fraudsters employing tactics designed to instill fear and coerce victims into compliance. In response, the real FedEx company issued a statement cautioning the public against sharing personal information over unsolicited calls or messages, emphasizing that they do not request such details unless initiated by customers.
Authorities urge vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities to local law enforcement agencies or the national cybercrime helpline "1930." In a world rife with scams, awareness and caution remain vital tools in safeguarding against financial exploitation and personal harm.
