Vadodara Medical Trader Cheated of ₹3.13 Lakh in Fake Military Hospital Equipment Procurement Scam

A Vadodara-based medical equipment vendor was duped of ₹3.13 lakh by fraudsters who impersonated staff from the Ahmedabad Military Hospital and issued fake purchase orders.

The cybercrime police station in Vadodara has registered a case against unidentified miscreants following a complaint lodged by 40-year-old Payalben Thakkar, a resident of the Gorwa area who operates a medical equipment supply business on Gotri Road.

According to the police complaint, the scam began on August 26, when an individual named Krunal Chaudhary contacted Thakkar, posing as the store manager of a hospital in Ahmedabad. Chaudhary requested a price quotation for patient warming units and trolleys, subsequently placing an order for three units of each item.

Fraud Exposed During Delivery Attempt

The fraud escalated on September 3, when another imposter, identifying himself as Kuldeep Singh and claiming to be an accountant at the Military Hospital in Ahmedabad, contacted the trader regarding payment processing. Singh informed Thakkar that she needed to log in through her bank account to complete vendor registration, warning that failure to do so would delay the payment release.

Following Singh's instructions, Thakkar initially executed a test transaction of ₹5. She was then manipulated into authorizing online transfers totaling ₹3,13,004 under the guise of completing the vendor registration sequence to process her bill.

The scam came to light when an employee from Thakkar's firm arrived at the Military Hospital in Ahmedabad to deliver the equipment. Hospital authorities informed the staff member that no such purchase order had been placed.

Realising she had been defrauded, Thakkar approached the Vadodara Cyber Crime Police Station. Investigating officers have launched a probe to trace the online bank transfers and identify the individuals behind the fraudulent operation.