In a shocking incident of online fraud and identity misuse, Dr. Arun Kumar, a 53-year-old doctor from Udupi, was extorted of Rs1.33 crore by fraudsters who posed as Customs officers. The scammers virtually confined Dr. Kumar by accusing him of being involved in a smuggling operation linked to his Aadhaar card.
According to Dr. Kumar’s complaint filed with the Udupi CEN police, the incident began on July 29, when he received a call from an unknown number. The caller, who identified himself as a Customs officer, informed Dr. Kumar that his Aadhaar card had been misused in booking a courier shipment.
The fraudster claimed that the shipment contained five passports, five ATM cards, 200 grams of synthetic narcotic drug MDMA, and Rs5,000 in cash. The caller accused Dr. Kumar of being involved in the illegal activity, creating a sense of panic and urgency.
The caller then informed Dr. Kumar that unless he cooperated, he could face severe legal consequences. Using this scare tactic, the fraudster demanded Rs1.33 crore from Dr. Kumar to “settle the matter” and avoid further complications with law enforcement.
Believing the fraudster’s claims and fearing legal repercussions, Dr. Kumar was coerced into making multiple payments over the course of several hours. The scammers continued to manipulate and threaten him during the entire ordeal, further increasing his fear and compliance.
After the extortion amount was paid, Dr. Kumar realized he had fallen victim to a well-organized scam. He immediately contacted the Udupi CEN police, who have since launched an investigation into the case.