The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) is launching a multi-modal awareness campaign to safeguard the public from fraudsters posing as Indian customs officers, a PIB press release stated.
The campaign will include advertisements in newspapers, SMS/Emails, and social media campaigns. The aim is to educate people about the modus operandi of fraudsters and how to stay safe from becoming a victim. According to CBIC, fraudsters usually contact people by phone, SMS, or email to claim that customs have held a package or parcel and demands payment of customs duties or taxes before it can be released.
They also use pressure tactics by pretending to be customs or police officials, and demand payment of customs duty or clearance fees for packages or gifts that have allegedly been received from a foreign country and require customs clearance. In some cases, fraudsters also claim that a package has been seized by customs due to illegal contents (such as drugs, foreign currency, fake passport, or contraband items), and they demand payment to resolve the issue.
CBIC is urging the public to be aware of these common frauds and take steps to protect themselves. Some tips include being careful about sharing personal information with anyone, never sending money to unknown or untested individuals or organizations, and verifying all communications from Indian Customs.