Nationwide iPhone scam probe widens

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Tax Ombudsman (FTO) has detected what it termed an organised scam involving the import and clearance of an iPhone 16 and directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to investigate the alleged role of FedEx, Customs officials and private individuals to determine whether similar frauds have occurred across the country. Federal Tax Ombudsman Zafar Hijazi in his order released on Tuesday observed that the case pointed to a coordinated scheme through which a lawful consignee was deprived of his duty-paid mobile phone for more than one-and-a-half years despite paying all applicable taxes. The complaint was filed by Muhammad Nausherwan Khan, who stated that his sister in Canada sent him an iPhone 16 Plus through FedEx in December 2024. After the handset arrived in Karachi, he paid the PTA tax of Rs138, 526 but alleged that the phone was never delivered to him. He later discovered that a forged authority letter had allegedly been used to release the device to another person. During the proceedings, Customs maintained that the mobile phone had been released after verifying the original detention receipt, invoice and other documents presented by a clearing agent. However, the Ombudsman questioned why the complainant, whose name appeared as the consignee on the import documents, was denied possession despite personally approaching Customs authorities. FTO orders inquiry into courier fraud allegations The FTO found that while the consignee’s name remained unchanged in the tracking records and import documents, the address and contact details had allegedly been substituted with those of another individual in the airway bill and invoice. The Ombudsman observed that such manipulation was indicative of an organised scam and stated that the modus operandi could not be ignored. Although the complainant subsequently informed the Ombudsman that his grievance had been resolved, the FTO decided to continue pursuing the broader issue, saying the suspected scam required a thorough investigation to protect the public interest. The Ombudsman recommended that FBR direct the Chief Collector of Customs (Airports) to initiate a targeted inquiry into FedEx, obtain courier import data for January 2025-June 2026 to identify similar cases, investigate the alleged use of forged authority letters, examine the role of Customs officials who may have facilitated the scam, and initiate legal and disciplinary proceedings where warranted. The FTO also recommended introducing a uniform standard operating procedure for courier clearances at all international airports. Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026

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