'FedEx says your parcel has drugs': The scam that trapped an Indian comedian
Ankita Shrivastav, a stand-up comedian from Mumbai, fell victim to a sophisticated scam where she was falsely accused of sending a parcel containing drugs. The scammers impersonated police officers and kept her under digital surveillance for hours, leading her to approve significant financial transactions. This incident highlights the growing issue of cybercrime in India, with a notable increase in digital scams reported in recent years.
- ▪Ankita Shrivastav was scammed by individuals impersonating police officers who claimed she was involved in drug trafficking.
- ▪She was monitored via video call for eight hours and pressured into making financial transactions totaling 900,000 rupees.
- ▪The National Crime Records Bureau reported a nearly 18% increase in cybercrimes in India for the year 2023-2024, with significant financial losses reported.
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| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 22:03:54 GMT |
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'FedEx says your parcel has drugs': The scam that trapped an Indian comedian 35 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleCherylann MollanMumbaiAnkita ShrivastavAnkita Shrivastav says she did a stand-up comedy piece on her experience to raise awareness"Hello ma'am, I'm calling from FedEx. We've been alerted by police that a courier you sent to Iraq contains drugs."This is what a man on the other end of the phone told Ankita Shrivastav, a stand-up comedian based in Mumbai city, one afternoon in October 2024.
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