Coimbatore housewife fleeced of Rs 6.65 lakh in custom duty scam

Coimbatore: A 39-year-old housewife from Rathinapuri lost Rs 6.65 lakh to online fraudsters in a custom duty scam.

According to city cybercrime police, an unidentified person claiming to be from abroad, contacted the woman over the phone and gradually gained her trust. After establishing rapport, on April 22, he told her that he was sending her US dollars worth Rs39 lakh as a gift.

A while later he contacted her and asked her to pay the customs duty amounting to Rs 6.65 lakh, to receive the package. The woman then transferred the Rs 6.65 lakh in two transactions to the bank accounts provided by the accused.

The fraud came to light after the man stopped communicating with her and became unreachable. The woman then approached the Coimbatore city cybercrime Police and filed a complaint.

Following a preliminary inquiry, police registered a case on Sunday. An investigation is underway, and cybercrime officials are tracing the digital trail and bank accounts used by the accused to identify and arrest him.