Shopkeeper duped of ₹50,000 by fraudsters posing as Paytm representatives

A 54-year-old shopkeeper in Ahmedabad’s Satellite area has alleged that two unidentified men posing as Paytm representatives fraudulently transferred ₹50,000 from his bank account after taking his mobile phone under the pretext of replacing his payment sound box.

According to Satellite police, the incident took place on March 26 at the complainant’s shop near Mother Pan Parlour and Lakshmi Gathiya Rath in the Ellisbridge area.

Prakashbhai Shantilal Rami, who runs a business in the locality and resides near Azad Society, told police that the two men arrived at his shop around 11.30 am claiming they had been sent by Paytm to replace his payment sound box.

Police said the duo asked for his mobile phone on the pretext of sending an email to their company and processing the replacement request. Trusting them, the shopkeeper handed over his phone, after which the men allegedly operated it for several minutes before returning it and saying they would come back with the replacement device.

When the men failed to return, the complainant contacted an authorised Paytm representative through a nearby shopkeeper and was informed that no such service personnel had been sent.

Upon checking his Paytm-linked bank statement the following day, the complainant allegedly discovered that ₹ 50,000 had been transferred from his Bank of Baroda account without his knowledge. He subsequently matched the transaction timing with the visit of the two men and concluded that the transfer had been carried out while they had access to his phone.

The complainant first reported the fraud through the national cybercrime helpline 1930 before approaching police to lodge a formal complaint.

Police have registered a case of cheating, criminal breach of trust and cyber fraud against two unidentified accused and have launched an investigation. CCTV footage from the area is being examined to trace the suspects.