Bengaluru Customs Warns Public: Fraudsters Pose as Officials, Extort Money

• Bengaluru Customs issued a high alert regarding a fraud racket where impostors pose as officials to extort money from the public.
• Fraudsters target vulnerable citizens via phone, social media, and messaging, falsely claiming a passenger is detained and demanding immediate payment.
• Customs clarified officials never demand payments via phone/social media or accept money into personal accounts; all official payments are through authorized channels.
• Scammers befriend victims, threaten jail or harassment for non-payment of duty, and demand transfers to personal bank accounts, UPI IDs, or digital wallets.
• Public urged to report such incidents to [e-mail] or cybercrime helpline 1930; strict legal action promised against fraudsters.

Why It Matters: Beware of Bengaluru Customs scams: Officials never demand payments via phone or personal accounts.