Fake CBI or Customs Officer Parcel Call on WhatsApp

How it looks on WhatsApp, the red flags and what to do.

WhatsApp is private and fast, which scammers like: a "wrong number" chat can turn into a task, an investment tip or a payment request within minutes. Fake CBI or Customs Officer Parcel Call is one of the ways this shows up: 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.

What fake cbi or customs officer parcel call looks like on WhatsApp

• A friend or relative asking for urgent money from a new number or a hacked account.
• A group invite promising returns, jobs or prizes.
• A PDF, APK or image that must be opened to "see the details".

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.

Red flags to check on the WhatsApp message

• 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.
• You are added to a group full of people praising profits.
• The sender moves you quickly to Telegram or to a second app.

What to do

1. Hang up and do not press any key on the recorded message.
2. If you want to check, use the courier's own app or the number printed on a real receipt.
3. Do not send any ID photo or pay anyone.
4. Warn the group or family, and report the number on Sanchar Saathi if it is a scam call or message.
5. Do not click links or open files. Do not send money or codes.
6. Open the chat, tap the contact name and choose Block and report.

Inside WhatsApp use Block and report; for numbers that call or text you, the Sanchar Saathi portal (Chakshu facility) also takes complaints.

If money or a code is already gone

1. Call 1930 at once with the account and amount you paid.
2. Inform your bank through the number on your card to ask for a hold on the transfer.
3. Make a complaint on cybercrime.gov.in with the call number and the WhatsApp notice.
4. Do not pay further 'release fees' even if the caller says it is the last step.

National Cyber Crime Helpline: 1930; report at cybercrime.gov.in.

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.

Full guide: Fake CBI or Customs Officer Parcel Call: how it works, signs and what to do. Other channels: phone call, fake app.

Questions