FedEx Scam: How I Was Almost Scammed and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

In today’s digital age, scams and fraudulent activities have become increasingly sophisticated, making it crucial for all of us to stay vigilant and informed. I recently had a harrowing experience with a scammer posing as a customer care operator from FedEx, and I want to share my story to raise awareness about this type of scam and offer some important tips to protect yourself from falling victim to such schemes.

I received a call from a number (+91–964675397) that appeared to be from FedEx customer care. The caller told me that a package attached to my government-issued ID had been flagged because it contained illegal items. he told me that the package had been seized by the Taiwan authorities and marked as suspicious.

The fear and anxiety that typically accompany such scam calls set in, and I couldn’t help but worry about potential trouble I might be facing.I knew that I hadn’t sent any such package, but I was still concerned.

The caller asked me for details about where I was supposed to deliver the package and to whom it had been sent. Feeling utterly clueless and convinced that there was a misunderstanding, I repeatedly tried to explain that they had incorrect information. However, the caller remained persistent and even claimed to possess CCTV footage related to the package.

At this point, the caller dropped another bombshell by saying, “I will connect you to the Mumbai police official.” As I answered the subsequent call, a man introduced himself as NARESH ASHOK SIRSAT, an inspector in the Mumbai Police stationed at Andheri station. He reiterated the same narrative, but this raised my first red flag: Why were the police involved in a matter concerning FedEx?

How I Caught On:

I started to get suspicious when the caller asked me for money. FedEx would never ask customers to transfer money to them. I also noticed that the caller’s accent was not very good.

Inspector proceeded to record my statement over the phone, as a visit to Mumbai on such short notice was impossible for me. I relayed the details provided by the customer care executive, emphasizing how confident she had seemed in handling such cases. This assurance, however, did little to quell my growing unease.

The officer continued to record my statement, inquiring about my workplace, how I had become aware of the parcel, whether I suspected anyone, and the status of my Aadhar card (an ID card issued by Indian Government)

As the conversation progressed, I could overhear background noises from a wireless device, further lending credibility to the situation.

if my Aadhar card (an ID card issued by Indian Government) was being misused elsewhere, and I overheard their entire conversation. Shockingly, they claimed that my Aadhar card (an ID card issued by Indian Government) was being used to open multiple bank accounts for money laundering through hawala transactions.

The officer reiterated the importance of my cooperation, promising that the situation would be resolved within 20–30 minutes. He mentioned that nearly 150 individuals were under investigation in this case, including bank employees, corporate workers, and others, both willingly and unwittingly involved. Their insistence revolved around gaining access to my bank accounts.

I decided to do some research on FedEx customer care scams. I quickly found that there are many reports of people being scammed in this way. I also found that FedEx has a warning on their website about these scams.

How to Avoid Being Scammed:

Here are some tips to avoid being scammed by FedEx customer care:

• Be wary of any call or email that asks for your personal information or money.
• FedEx will never ask customers to transfer money to them.
• If you receive a call or email from FedEx customer care, hang up and call the official FedEx customer care number at 1–800–463–3339.
• You can also check the FedEx website for information about customer care scams.

Personal Note:

I’m sharing my story because I want to remind people that anyone can be scammed. Even if you’re tech-savvy and you know about online scams, you can still be fooled. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant and to think critically about any communication you receive.