Ahmedabad Police have arrested six members of a gang involved in defrauding over 500 shopkeepers across more than 10 cities in Gujarat, with the total scam amount surpassing Rs 1 crore.
The fraudsters targeted Paytm Sound Box users by falsely claiming that the charges for the device had been reduced or removed.
A senior citizen, Jayesh Desai from Vasna, filed an FIR with the Ahmedabad Police, saying that two individuals falsely identified themselves as representatives of Paytm and claimed the monthly charge for the Paytm Sound Box had been reduced to Rs 1. Using this misinformation, the scammers accessed his mobile phone’s banking applications and passwords, and eventually transferred Rs 6 lakh through two transactions. Following this incident, an investigation has been launched under IPC sections 316(2), 318(2), 319(2), 54, and IT Act section 66(c).
Hardik Mankadia, Additional Commissioner of Police, said that the gang targeted shopkeepers by impersonating Paytm employees, offering fake schemes, and gaining access to their banking details. Once the fraud was completed, the gang deleted transaction messages and transferred the stolen funds to illegal online gaming accounts.
Mankadia confirmed that nine members of the gang have been arrested so far, including six recent arrests. “Brijesh Patel and Pritam Suthar are the main masterminds in this scam,” he said.
Amongst the arrested are Govind Khatik, Brijesh Patel, Parag Mistry, Raj Patel, Delux Suthar, and Pritam Suthar. Brijesh Patel, identified as the ringleader, is a former Paytm employee who was dismissed due to fraud allegations in 2021. He formed the gang in 2022, targeting shopkeepers using Paytm Sound Boxes.
He coordinated illegal transfers through gaming accounts and acquired fake SIM cards from Rajasthan. Govind, Parag, Raj, and Delux were responsible for various roles in the operation, ranging from accessing bank accounts to managing fraudulent transfers.
Pritam Suthar, also a former Paytm employee, collaborated with Brijesh from 2022. Pritam used fake accounts and SIM cards for money transfers and faces over 10 criminal cases, including charges of murder and assault, in Rajasthan’s Pali and Sirohi districts over the past three years.
This gang collectively defrauded shopkeepers across 10-12 districts in Gujarat, with total scam amounts exceeding Rs 1 crore.