Fake customs officer cheats teen of Rs 18,000

An engineering student from Hyderabad was cheated of Rs 18,000 by a man claiming to be a customs official posted at the Mumbai airport, who lured him into the trap by offering to sell him an iPhone 7 for that price. The market price of an iPhone 7 is around Rs 85,000.

The 19-year-old, enticed at the prospect of owning the latest gadget and convinced by the ‘airport entry pass’ (AEP) of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) provided to him by the fraudster, promptly parted with the money as directed.

Mohammad was browsing through an online website looking for a second-hand phone when he came across an advertisement that drew his attention. He then contacted the person concerned through WhatsApp. The advertiser was Takshish Singh Kolal who introduced himself as the superintendent of customs at the Mumbai airport to the teenager and told him an iPhone 7 was available for sale for just Rs 18,000.

Additionally, to convince the unwary teenager of his credentials, Kolal also emailed him a scanned copy of an AEP. Mohammad fell into the trap and as directed deposited the money into the bank account mentioned by Kolal.

However, soon enough, Kolal became incommunicado, following which Mohammad realised he had been cheated. He got in touch with the officials at the Mumbai airport, who informed him that no Kolal worked at the Air Intelligence Unit of the customs. “The complainant showed us the AEP he had been emailed, and this did not even designate him as a customs official of the airport," said a custom official who did not wish to be named. “As per the civil aviation safety rules, persons working inside the airport terminal building should possess an AEP. However, this AEP will have all the details after they are verified with the police and other authorities concerned. How did this fraudster get such a pass ” another custom official asked.

Another top AIU official said Kolal's pass was riddled with grammatical errors, which was enough to indicate it was fake.

“This is first-of-it’s kind case, where someone posing as a custom official to sell an iPhone managed to cheat a person. Our job is to impose duty and check illegal goods. We do not sell mobiles. Citizens should avoid falling for such traps,” the AIU official said.