Fake CBI or Customs Officer Parcel Call
An automated call says a parcel in your name was seized with illegal items, then a fake CBI or customs officer demands money. How to stay calm.
The call starts with a recorded voice saying a parcel sent in your name has been stopped at customs. Pressing a key connects you to someone claiming to be a customs or investigation officer. They talk about passports, drugs or fake cards found inside. You never sent any parcel. The story is built so you panic, and so that paying 'fines' or 'clearance fees' feels like the quickest way out.
How the scam works
The scammer needs only your phone number to start. The first voice is a recording that names a courier company and a city, so it feels like a routine delivery issue. Pressing a key to deny the parcel connects you to a live person who sounds official and uses legal-sounding terms. They ask you to confirm your name and Aadhaar, which they later quote back to you.
Next comes the escalation. A second officer, often described as senior, takes over and says an arrest warrant may be issued. You may receive a PDF 'notice' with seals and signatures over WhatsApp. They tell you to keep the matter private for the sake of the investigation. Every step takes you further from asking a friend or checking the story.
The payoff is a payment described as a refundable deposit, a bail amount or a clearance fee. It is demanded by bank transfer or UPI to a personal or company account. When you pay, a new fee appears, for example for tax or for a certificate. The calls continue until you run out of money or tell someone who recognises the pattern.
An example of what you may see
Example call (invented): 'Press 1 to speak to customs. A parcel booked in your name from abroad was stopped. It contains passports, bank cards and banned items. If you do not cooperate an arrest warrant will be issued. We are sending the case file on WhatsApp. Pay a refundable clearance deposit to the verification account to close the case today. Do not discuss this with anyone.' Note the recorded start, the threat of arrest, the file on WhatsApp and the secrecy.
This example is written for illustration. Real messages change their wording, names and links all the time.
Red flags
- A recorded call says a parcel in your name was seized.
- You never booked or expected any parcel.
- The caller threatens arrest or a warrant over the phone.
- Official-looking notices come on WhatsApp.
- A refundable deposit is demanded to close the case.
- You are told to keep the matter secret.
What to do right now
- Hang up and do not press any key on the recorded message.
- If you want to check, use the courier's own app or the number printed on a real receipt.
- Do not send any ID photo or pay anyone.
- Tell a family member what the caller said.
- Report the number on Sanchar Saathi and on cybercrime.gov.in.
If you already paid or shared a code
- Call 1930 at once with the account and amount you paid.
- Inform your bank through the number on your card to ask for a hold on the transfer.
- Make a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with the call number and the WhatsApp notice.
- Do not pay further 'release fees' even if the caller says it is the last step.
National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930. Report online at cybercrime.gov.in. Do it fast: the sooner your bank is told, the better the chance that money can be held.
Where this scam shows up
Read how it looks on each channel:
How Safeavio helps
Safeavio Sentinel's scam check can read a pasted message or a transcript you write down and show reasons such as fake authority, a threat of arrest and a money demand. The Money Shield checklist asks you to pause and verify before paying. It cannot listen to calls or detect a live caller, and it cannot confirm that any parcel exists. Check shipments only in the courier's official app.
Check it before you tap or pay
Safeavio Sentinel is a made-in-India Android app: paste a message or link, or scan a QR code, and get a plain verdict with the reasons. It helps you spot a scam; it does not promise to stop every one.
Download for AndroidWhat the app does
Google Play listing: coming soon. Today the signed APK is on safeavio.com/download. Android 7.0 or later.
Questions people ask
How would a real customs issue reach me?
Genuine notices come in writing through official channels, and you can check with the courier or the department using details you find yourself. You are never told to pay a stranger's personal account over the phone. Use only official apps and sites you open yourself.
Can a call from an officer lead to arrest over the phone?
No. Legal action does not work through a phone call demanding money, and you are not arrested by video or audio. If a caller says so, end the call and report it. Keep screenshots in case you decide to report it.
Why do they ask me to confirm my Aadhaar number?
Confirming it makes you feel they already hold your records, and gives them data for other frauds. Never read it out to a caller. Real officers do not need you to confirm identity numbers over a call.