Mobile Hang Leads to ₹59,000 Fraud From Ahmedabad Rickshaw Driver’s Bank Account

An Ahmedabad rickshaw driver lost ₹59,000 after an unknown person allegedly installed Google Pay on his phone while he was trying to clear messages from a hanging screen.

The 58-year-old victim, Pratapram Meghwal, lives in Shastri Laghu Udyog Nagar near Vadilal Ice Factory in Tavdipura and earns a living by driving a loading rickshaw and doing odd jobs.

On August 3, at around 2.30 pm, Meghwal’s mobile phone began hanging. While repeatedly trying to clear information appearing on the screen, he allegedly became a victim of the fraud.

Bank Account Had Only ₹256 Left

At around 9 pm, Meghwal tried to check his balance through the PhonePe app but could not see the amount. The next day, he visited the Delhi Darwaja branch of his bank and got his passbook updated.

The entry showed that only ₹256 remained in his account. Bank officials informed him that ₹59,000 had been withdrawn from his account on August 3.

A person known to Meghwal, Namanbhai Shah, later checked his phone at his workplace. It was then found that Google Pay had been installed on the device, even though Meghwal said he had never used the app.

The money was allegedly transferred through the newly installed Google Pay application.

Madhavpura Police Begin Investigation

Meghwal immediately reported the incident to the cyber helpline 1930. Madhavpura police subsequently registered a case and began investigating the transaction and how the mobile phone was accessed.

Police are examining how Google Pay was installed and how the accused gained access to the victim’s bank account and carried out the transfer.

Victim Was Unfamiliar With Online Transactions

Meghwal, a native of Padiw village in Rajasthan’s Sirohi district, has been living in Ahmedabad for the past 40 years. He has been driving a loading rickshaw for around 15 years to support his family.

According to the complaint, Meghwal was unfamiliar with smartphones and online transactions, and the incident occurred while he was trying to operate his phone after it became unresponsive.