CBIC advises the public to protect themselves from scams. (Representative image)
Various incidents have come to light through news portals/social media platforms of fraudulent persons posing as Indian Customs officers cheating the public of their hard-earned money across the country.
The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has launched a comprehensive public awareness campaign to counteract scams conducted by fraudsters posing as Indian Customs officers, according to an official release on June 16. These criminals use phone calls and SMS to extort money from unsuspecting victims by instilling fear of immediate penal action.
“Various incidents have come to light through news portals/social media platforms of fraudulent persons posing as Indian Customs officers cheating the public of their hard-earned money across the country. These frauds are primarily done using digital means like phone calls or SMS, and are focused on extracting money through the ‘purported’ fear of immediate penal action,” the CBIC said in a statement on Sunday.
To address this issue, CBIC’s multi-modal campaign includes:
- Newspaper Advertisements
- SMS/Email Alerts
- Social Media Campaigns
- Public Awareness Initiatives by CBIC field formations nationwide, in collaboration with local administrations and trade bodies.
CBIC Advises the Public To Protect Yourself from Scams:
DISCERN: Indian Customs officers never contact the general public via phone, SMS, or email for payment of duty in private accounts. Disconnect suspicious calls and ignore messages.
PROTECT: Avoid sharing personal information like passwords, CVV, Aadhaar number, etc, or sending money without verifying the request’s authenticity.
VERIFY: Legitimate communications from Indian Customs include a Document Identification Number (DIN), which can be verified on the CBIC website — https://esanchar.cbic.gov.in/DIN/DINSearch.
REPORT: Report fraudulent cases to Cyber Crime Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or helpline number 1930.
Common Scam Tactics Used By Fraudsters:
Fake Calls/SMS: Fraudsters pose as courier officials, claiming Customs has held a package and demanding duty payments.
Pressure Tactics: Impersonators demand money for releasing packages allegedly seized by Customs.
Demand for Money: Victims are falsely informed about seized illegal contents (uch as drugs/ foreign currency/ fake passport/ contraband items) in their packages and threatened with legal action unless they pay.
