New Delhi:
A number of enterprise institutions have been in for a shock in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho when prospects scanned the QR codes at their outlets however the cash by no means reached their accounts. CCTV footage obtained later confirmed a gaggle of fraudsters altering the net cost scanners in a single day.
The group pasted new QR codes over the present scanners. Round half a dozen companies have been focused by the group, as a result of which funds reached the accounts of the accused, who’re but to be recognized.
Amongst them was Omvati Gupta, the proprietor of Rajesh Medical Shops. When a buyer made a cost by way of QR code at her store within the morning, she was alerted by the previous that the title on the linked account was modified.
One other institution that fell sufferer to the fraud was a petroleum pump. An worker mentioned that many shoppers transferred cash however it was not reflecting within the enterprise’ account. “We checked the scanner and the title was coming as Chotu Tiwari. We then eliminated that scanner,” the worker mentioned.
Khajuraho police station in-charge Atul Dixit mentioned the instances of dishonest have been dropped at his discover however no dealer had filed any complaints. He added that an investigation can be carried out within the matter, expressing confidence that the fraudsters will quickly be in police custody.
Within the winter session of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha final month, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav introduced knowledge on the growing variety of cyber frauds in response to a query raised by Congress MLA Pratap Grewal.
In 2024, 26 instances of “digital arrest” fraud have been reported, the place cybercriminals impersonated regulation enforcement businesses to extort over Rs 12.6 crore. This marks a 130% enhance from 2023, when just one case was reported, leading to a lack of Rs 96,968.
Out of the Rs 12.60 crore extorted in 2024, solely Rs 72.38 lakh (5.74%) was recovered. In 2023 and 2024, individuals in Madhya Pradesh misplaced over Rs 150 crore to cyber fraud.