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.The resident of west Delhi told police that she was drawn into what appeared to be an elaborate cyber fraud racket after a man contacted her on WhatsApp in March 2025, introducing himself as an auditing manager of a bank.He allegedly claimed that a “diplomatic courier” containing the amount and intended for her was lying in storage at a high commission. She was told to pay customs duty and demurrage charges to get the parcel released. “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. What began as a single payment soon turned into a relentless cycle of demands, resulting in her losing over Rs 1.2 crore.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. In such previous cases, cops found that unknown individuals had contacted their targets through WhatsApp chats and phone calls, posing as foreigners. After gaining their confidence, they claimed that a parcel containing money had been sent to India in a target’s name, thereby kickstarting a web of deception and extortion.According to the complaint of the west Delhi woman, 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. She was allegedly told that some money had to be paid to take the box out of storage. These demands continued on different pretexts.In Oct, another person identifying himself as “Paul Bauer” allegedly told her that he had spoken to the high commissioner about the parcel. He claimed he would take custody of the box and arrange a cheque of 1 lakh US dollars (Rs 96 lakh) for her. For that, she was asked to make further payments.Bauer, who claimed to be a British citizen and a doctor posted in Yemen on a UN mission, later told her he had some money in a bank and could transfer it to her, but she should pay for transaction codes, taxes and an increase in transaction limits.The deception continued into 2026. The woman claimed she was told that Ekong had managed to get hold of the money intended for her from the diplomatic facility and that he would come to India to help her recover it. However, he demanded 40% of the amount and also wanted her to pay for her accommodation expenses.In Feb, Ekong allegedly claimed that 16,000 pounds (Rs 21 lakh) had been transferred to the woman’s account from an international account. When the money did not arrive, she was asked to pay transaction charges. Another person, posing as an auditing officer of an international bank, allegedly continued making similar demands until April 15.It was only after the demands continued without any parcel or money being delivered that the woman stopped communicating with these people. She then alerted her parents and sister before approaching the authorities after a further two months.Police have registered a case.
