There was a slick move in Yelahanka New Town that sent shock waves across the business community with its sophisticated digital payment scam. A gang of fraudsters, donning masks to hide their identities, has been able to "don the velvet cap" (defrauding) on local shopkeepers via one of their fraudulent apps, which mimics popular UPI payment platforms like PhonePe.
How "Ghost Payment" Scam Works
It is a very low cost yet effective modus operandi. The culprits walk into high-end shops, pick up high value purchases and head over to the front desk where they will get charged for it. They scan the store’s QR code and display onto the screen a confirmation message to the shopkeeper which says that the payment is successful, along with its familiar animation and transaction ID. In a twist of horror, victims claim that even the UPI Soundboxes in some stores state that the amount is 'credited'. But the truth is even more stark: not a rupee ends up in the merchant's bank account.
A String of Targets: Case Studies
With the Mobile Merchants Association pointing out three specific instances:
- Case 01: The gang got off from Vinayaka Mobiles with items worth ₹7,000, just because they exhibited a fake success screen.
- Case 02: The Dinesh Mobile Store lost ₹15,000 after the gang "purchased" sophisticated OnePlus earbuds from the fake app.
- Case 03: The fraud even reached local eateries. The gang reappeared at a second visit, only a Biryani shop owner who realised he was duped. The scammers’ tricks were revealed when the previous pending payment was questioned.
How to Use The Fake App: An Incidence
Investigations find that the scammers are using a tailored “spoof” application. This application enables users to input any merchant name, amount, and date in order to make a pixel-perfect fake payment receipt. Other advanced versions of these apps can also elicit a voice response in manipulated soundbox environments. They claimed the app is able to simulate transactions worth up to ₹1 Crore, which presents a huge threat to large businesses.
Police Action in Yelahanka
In Yelahanka New Town, the local Mobile Association registered a formal complaint following a string of over 10 heists. It's reported that some members of this “Masked Gang” have been apprehended and handed over to the Yelahanka New Town Police Station.
Safety Tips for Merchants
To avoid falling victim to this digital pit-stop, shopkeepers are instructed to:
- Verify by SMS: Don't look at your client's cell phone screen. Wait for your bank credit SMS to be issued to let you know how much has been credited to your account.
- Check Merchant Apps: Check in the official "Business" version of your payment app to check on the history in real time.
- Check Soundboxes: Ensure the soundbox is placed correctly, free from tampering; if an error was raised in some part of the soundbox it might receive correct feedback, so do not let those changes occur again.
