Udupi: A 32-year-old Udupi resident, Tiago, lost over Rs 15 lakh to a scammer posing as a Mumbai Cyber Crime branch officer. 

The fraudster initially claimed to be a FedEx representative, alleging a non-delivery of a courier sent by Tiago to Iran. The caller, asserting Tiago's involvement in an illegal narcotics trade, coerced him into opening the iMobile pay app and applying for a pre-approved Rs 15.62 lakh personal loan. 

Under the guise of a Cyber Crime branch officer, the scammer then compelled Tiago to transfer the amount via RTGS to an account provided.

Padubidri police registered a complaint under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act. 

FedEx responded, clarifying that the company does not solicit personal information via unsolicited calls. They advised individuals to avoid sharing personal details and report suspicious incidents to law enforcement or the National Cyber Crime portal.