Bengaluru Customs Issues Alert on Fraudsters Posing as Officers to Cheat Innocent People
Bengaluru Customs alerts public to beware of scammers impersonating officers, tricking victims with fake stories of relatives detained at airport for duties, urging reports to police and no payments.
The Bengaluru Customs department has raised a strong alarm about a growing scam where fraudsters are pretending to be customs officers to trick and rob vulnerable people, especially the poor and those in financial trouble. In a public advisory released today, the department detailed how these cheats are using fake stories about airport detentions to extract money from unsuspecting victims.
According to the advisory from Kempegowda International Airport Customs, the fraudsters follow a clever but cruel plan. They first approach victims through personal meetings, social media or mutual friends.
They make up a fake story that a friend or relative of the victim has come from abroad to Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. They lie to the victim that the passenger has been stopped by Customs officers, and asked to pay Customs duty, fine, penalty, or other fees.
In many cases, they even say the passenger is being troubled or hurt by Customs officers to scare and upset the victim. Using fear, pity, and hurry, they convince the victim to send money in parts through cash, UPI, bank transfer, or online wallets, saying it's to "fix" the problem with Customs.
After getting the money, the cheats stop all contact and run away. Bengaluru Customs has made it crystal clear that real officers never do such things. "Customs officers do not call or message private people to demand payments for duties, fines, or any government dues over phone, WhatsApp, or social media," the advisory states.
It also stresses that no payments are collected through personal accounts, UPI IDs, or cash. All real customs work follows strict laws, with everything recorded on CCTV and body cameras. Passengers are never detained or harmed for non-payment.
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The department explained that any genuine government fees must be paid only at official counters, through authorized channels, or on official online portals, and you always get a proper receipt.
People are urged to stay alert and not fall for these tricks. "Do not believe calls or messages claiming to be from customs asking for money. Never transfer funds to anyone promising to help with customs clearance," the advisory warns. It advises checking facts on your own and not getting swayed by threats or sad stories.
If anyone faces such a scam, they should report it immediately to Bengaluru Customs at emails commr-apace-cusblr@gov.in or customs-bengaluru@gov.in, or call 080-22001404. They can also contact the local police or the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or via www.cybercrime.gov.in.
Bengaluru Customs is working hand-in-hand with the police to catch these fraudsters. Pretending to be government officers or misusing the customs name is a serious crime, and strict action will be taken. Please be aware.
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