Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 10 February 2023
Nicobar Times had earlier reported an incident where a Rangat Woman was looted of INR 10,17,000/- by cyber fraudsters disguising as Customs Officials. Now a couple from Rangat has lodged an FIR disclosing a loot of INR 8,00,000/- by fraudsters disguising as Customs officials.
The couple was in touch with a man named Dr. Walter based on shared religious views from September 2022. One day Dr. Walter told them that as Christmas was approaching, he wanted to send them some gifts. Dr. Walter also sent them a picture of their packed gift, which was to be dispatched to their address in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Suddenly on 29th November 2022, the couple received a call from someone claiming to be from Bombay Customs. The person on the other end of the line informed them that he has authenticated a gift in their name, which contains cash and gold. He informed that as per Customs rule they need to pay the duty penalty to release the gift from Customs Department, or a case will be filed in their name, and they will get in trouble with money laundering and asset laundering.
The fraudster also told them to settle the issue in a non-official way by paying the amount.
Without a second thought, the couple transferred the amount sought by the fraudster, as the husband was a Govt. Employee and the couple did not want to get into legal trouble.
From 29th November 2022 to 1st December 2022, the couple transferred INR 8 Lakhs into the fraudster’s account.