Cybercrooks impersonate FedEx, extort Rs 15 lakh from lawyer in 36-hour video call scam

In a recent incident, cybercriminals impersonating FedEx employees scammed a lawyer and extorted Rs 15 lakh from her. The criminals, engaged the lawyer in a single video call for nearly 36 hours, coerced her into stripping and extorted Rs 15 lakh from her, threatening to sell the compromising video on the dark web.

The victim, identified only as Bhuvi (name changed), 29, recounted her harrowing experience to the East CEN police. She revealed that the ordeal began when she received a call from someone claiming to be from 'FedEx,' informing her that a parcel sent in her name to Thailand contained illegal substances. The call was then transferred to an individual who claimed to be a Mumbai police officer.

This fake 'officer' instructed Bhuvi to download Skype and add him to her chat. He proceeded to inform her that her Aadhaar number was linked to serious criminal activities. The call was then redirected to a person claiming to be Abhishek Chauhan, who identified himself as a CBI officer. Chauhan fabricated a case involving human trafficking, money laundering, and identity theft against Bhuvi, coercing her into divulging her financial details and swearing an oath of secrecy.


Under the guise of verifying her transactions, the scammers compelled Bhuvi to transfer Rs 10.7 lakh to an account and make additional transactions using her credit card. Later, Chauhan coerced her into stripping for a fake "narcotics test" while recording the video, threatening to arrest her and her family if she refused. He demanded an additional Rs 10 lakh, threatening to sell the video on the dark web if she failed to comply.

Terrified, Bhuvi disconnected the call and sought police assistance. A case has been registered under the Information Technology Act and laws related to extortion and cheating. The police are currently investigating the matter.

In response to the incident, a FedEx spokesperson clarified that the company does not solicit personal information through unsolicited calls, mail, or email for goods being shipped or held unless requested or initiated by customers. The spokesperson advised individuals to immediately contact local law enforcement authorities if they receive any suspicious phone calls or messages.