The Indian government has recently issued a warning about a new scam in which citizens are receiving fraudulent calls purportedly from the Customs Department. The scammers are reportedly exploiting unsuspecting individuals by threatening them with legal action for alleged customs duty violations or non-payment of dues. With the increasing number of victims, government officials are now urging the public to be vigilant and take precautions to protect themselves from falling prey to these cyber criminals.

In a recent post on platform X, PIB Fact Check highlighted this new phone-based scam where scammers are calling people impersonating Customs Department officials. In the calls, scammers threaten targeted individuals, claiming there is a pending issue related to customs, taxes or illegal imports. “Have you received calls claiming to be from the Customs Department even though you have not ordered anything.. be careful… it’s a scam,” warns PIB Fact Check in the latest post on X.

To make the calls more credible, scammers include details such as case numbers, official-sounding titles, and even forged documents sent via email or messaging apps to support their claims. The scammers then pressure their targets and threaten them with immediate legal action, including arrest warrants, freezing bank accounts, or hefty fines, if they don’t comply with their demands.

In some reported cases, these online fraudsters have even instructed victims to make immediate payments to “close” the matter or avoid arrest. These payments are typically requested via non-traceable methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrencies, making it difficult to recover funds once transferred.

Scammers have been seen directing victims to a fake website that mimics a government portal, where they can “verify” their case details. Although this website may look credible with government logos and official language, it is designed to trick the victim into believing that the scam is real.

Notably, this scam is somewhat similar to the scam we reported earlier wherein scammers call people about illegal parcels being seized, followed by fake calls from Customs and CIB officials.

How to stay safe?

To combat this growing online scam, the government has shared a number of tips to help individuals protect themselves:

If you receive a call claiming to be from the customs department, do not panic. Instead, hang up and contact the official government helpline or the official website to confirm the claim. Do not use the contact information provided by the caller, as it may be part of a scam.

Never share your personal information, such as bank account details, credit card numbers or identity documents, over the phone or online unless you are sure about the legitimacy of the caller.

In many online scams, we have seen scammers use pressure tactics such as threats of legal action or arrest to force victims to comply as quickly as possible. However, the government official said legitimate government agencies will not demand immediate payment or use threatening language.

Always be wary of any requests for payment, especially if the payment method is unconventional, such as gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.

Most importantly, if you receive any suspicious calls, report it to the relevant authorities immediately. This will help the authorities track down the scammers and also save others from falling prey to the scam.