The Cybercrime Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police has issued a critical public advisory, alerting residents of Chennai and beyond to a sophisticated new scam. Fraudsters are now impersonating courier delivery agents to hijack unsuspecting victims' bank accounts and social media profiles.
How the Courier Parcel Scam Operates
Officials explain that the criminals initiate contact by calling or messaging their targets. They pretend to be from a courier company, seeking to confirm or reschedule a parcel delivery. To build trust, they often reference vague delivery details. Once engaged, the scammer sends an SMS containing a USSD code, which typically starts with the digits '21' followed by the scammer's own phone number.
The victim is then tricked into dialling this code. Unbeknownst to them, this action silently activates call forwarding from the victim's number to the scammer's device. This malicious redirection diverts all incoming calls and SMS messages, including crucial One-Time Passwords (OTPs) from banks, verification calls, and app authentication codes, directly into the hands of the fraudsters.
Consequences and Official Advice from Cyber Police
With access to these verification channels, the criminals can effortlessly execute unauthorized financial transactions or completely take over bank accounts and social media profiles. The victim remains unaware until it is too late, as all alerts are forwarded away from their phone.
Additional Director General of Police (Cybercrime), Sandeep Mittal, stated that this scam preys on a widespread lack of awareness about USSD-based call forwarding features. The police have issued clear guidelines for public safety:
- Never dial USSD codes (such as those starting with 21, 61, 67) shared by unknown callers or received via unsolicited messages.
- Avoid clicking on suspicious delivery links sent via SMS, WhatsApp, or email.
- Always verify delivery details exclusively through the official websites of courier companies or their authorized customer care numbers.
Immediate Steps if You Suspect You Are a Victim
For individuals who fear they may have already activated call forwarding unknowingly, the Cybercrime Wing (CCW) advises an immediate remedy: dial ##002# to cancel all active call forwarding services on your mobile number.
If you suspect you have been scammed or notice any suspicious activity on your accounts, the police urge you to act without delay. Contact the National Cyber Crime Helpline at '1930' or file a formal complaint through the official portal at www.cybercrime.gov.in.
This advisory underscores the need for constant vigilance in the digital age, where simple actions like dialling a code can lead to significant financial and personal data loss.
