Fake Customs Officer Cheats Businessman of ₹75,000

A man posing as a Customs officer allegedly cheated a 53-year-old businessman of ₹75,000 at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport by promising to sell two iPhones at a heavily discounted price. The incident came to light after the victim lodged a complaint with the RGIA police station earlier this week, prompting the police to register a case of cheating and launch an investigation.

The victim, identified as Gyam Alfred, a resident of Mettuguda in Secunderabad, stated that the accused first approached him at his soft drink shop at Secunderabad railway station. The man introduced himself as a Customs officer working at the Hyderabad airport and claimed that he had two iPhones and some gold items in his possession, which he wanted to sell at a low price.

Believing the man’s claims, Alfred agreed to purchase the two iPhones for ₹1 lakh. The accused then instructed him to come to the departure area of the Hyderabad airport around noon to complete the transaction. Alfred followed the instructions and reached the airport at the scheduled time to meet the accused and finalize the deal.

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Businessman Cheats After Paying ₹75,000

At the meeting point, Alfred initially handed over ₹70,000 in cash as part of the payment. The accused then demanded an additional ₹5,000, taking the total amount paid to ₹75,000. After receiving the money, the accused assured Alfred that he would return shortly with the iPhones, asking him to wait at the spot.

However, the accused left the area and did not return with the promised items. After waiting for some time, Alfred realized that he had been cheated. He then approached the RGIA police station and lodged a complaint, narrating the entire incident and providing details of the accused. Based on his statement, the police registered a case against the unidentified man and began efforts to identify and track him using available leads.

Police officials said they are making efforts to trace the accused and recover the money that was handed over during the transaction. They also issued an advisory to the public to remain cautious and not fall prey to such fraudulent offers, especially when approached by unknown individuals claiming to be government officials. Officials urged citizens to verify credentials before making any financial transactions and to report any suspicious persons or activities to the nearest police station immediately.

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