New Delhi: A “diplomatic parcel” said to contain 7 lakh British pounds (over Rs 9 crore) in cash left a 34-year-old woman poorer by around Rs 1.2 crore over the course of nearly a year.
What began as a single payment soon turned into a relentless cycle of demands, resulting in her losing over Rs 1.2 crore. She was told to pay customs duty and demurrage charges to get the parcel released.
He allegedly claimed that a “diplomatic courier” containing the amount and intended for her was lying in storage at a high commission. “I tried to refuse accepting the courier, but still had to pay some money as purported custom fees,” she said in a complaint filed with police. Cops said the woman’s father runs a healthcare business and that she managed his bank accounts. Police said members of the racket lured her with the promise of money and brainwashed her, and the modus operandi appeared similar to some scams they had earlier come across. Another person using the name “Ekong” contacted her on WhatsApp in Sept 2025, claiming to be working with the high commission and offering to facilitate the release of the parcel, according to the complaint of the west Delhi woman. She was allegedly told that some money had to be paid to take the box out of storage.
In such previous cases, cops found that unknown individuals had contacted their targets through WhatsApp chats and phone calls, posing as foreigners. These demands continued on different pretexts.