Custom Scam Trend: Why Indians Keep Falling for “Courier Is Held”
That “urgent” call about a parcel stuck at customs is no small nuisance now. It is one of India’s fastest-spreading fraud scripts nationwide, frequently highlighted in Current News India reports: fear first, payment next. Scammers pose as courier staff, customs officers, or even police, then claim your Aadhaar, SIM, or parcel is tied to drugs or money laundering.
They push victims into panic transfers, “verification” fees, or screen-sharing traps. The script keeps changing, but the pressure tactics stay the same.
How The Courier-Customs Trap Works In 2026
A common flow starts with “your shipment is held.” Then comes escalation: fake case numbers, forged letters, and video calls with fake uniforms. Government advisories have repeatedly warned that fraudsters impersonate Customs and law-enforcement agencies to extort money.
Toll-free 1930 and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal are the fastest official routes to report and freeze funds early. Mumbai alone reported ₹155 crore lost to digital-arrest scams in 2025, up 33% from 2024.
What To Do In The First 10 Minutes
Cut the call. Do not pay “release charges.” Do not share OTP, PAN, Aadhaar, or screen access. Verify independently using official numbers from the courier website, never a number sent by SMS. Report at once on cybercrime.gov.in and 1930. Save evidence too: call logs, UPI IDs, screenshots, payment receipts, and sender handles.
Official Posts And Verified Reading
CyberDost “parcel on hold” post on X.
CyberDost parcel scam reel.
FAQs
1) Is a customs-courier “urgent payment” call usually genuine?
Usually no; verify through official helplines, never caller-provided numbers, links, QR codes, or payment requests.
2) What are the quickest red flags in this scam?
Threats, secrecy demands, payment pressure, intimidation calls, fake IDs, and OTP requests are warning signs.
3) I already paid. What should I do immediately?
Call 1930 immediately, complain on cybercrime.gov.in, inform your bank, and save transaction details.
4) Can police or agencies legally “digitally arrest” someone on video call?
No legal authority conducts arrests over video calls; that claim is a fraud signature pattern.
5) Why do educated people still get trapped?
Because fear works fast, and scammers exploit authority bias, isolation, and confusion during high-pressure calls.
