Extortion of money in name of Customs Officers - Delhi Customs Alert
INSTANCES have come to notice that people are being cheated by unscrupulous elements who promise to send baggage of the passengers from abroad to people in India against payment of some amount. They impersonate as customs officers by using their names and instruct the passengers to deposit money in the Bank Accounts created for fraudulent purpose of extorting money.They may also issue fictitious receipts for having received the amount.
The Delhi Customs Commissioner in a Public Notice says:
1. Customs duty shall be deposited in favour of Commissioner of Customs (Government Account) through nominated nationalized bank. Central Bank of India is the nominated bank for IGI Airport, Delhi.
2. Customs officers never call anyone and ask to pay customs duty to any individual or deposit into any account.
3. At IGI Airport, New Delhi, after appraisal of goods which may include examination of the baggage, if any Customs duty is payable. Customs Officer issues a BR (Bank Receipt) in quintuplicate (for passenger, - for customs,- for bank records & retaining the blue copy with BR Book) mentioning the value of goods and duty amount payable. These BRs are presented before the notified bank i.e. Central Bank of India (located in Arrival Hall itself)and the duty amount is deposited. The custom duty at IGI Airport cannot be deposited online presently.
4. All the BRs are endorsed by the Bank after the duty amount is deposited with them.
The Commissioner alerts the public not to pay any amount in the name of Customs to any person or to any private account. If anybody demands such payments claiming to be Officer of Customs or the baggage is alleged to be detained by Customs at IGI Airport, public are advised to contact the Assistant / Deputy Commissioner of Customs (on duty), IGI Airport, New Delhi on their land line nos. 011-25656555 and 011-25652088.
Interestingly, this Public Notice was issued last July, 2014 but the CBEC has made it Public through its website yesterday ONLY.