Ahmedabad Police have arrested six members of a gang accused of defrauding more than 500 shopkeepers across over 10 cities in Gujarat, with the total scam amount exceeding Rs 1 crore. The group targeted Paytm Sound Box users by falsely claiming that the monthly charges for the device had been reduced or waived.
The fraud came to light when Jayesh Desai, a senior citizen from Vasna, filed an FIR with Ahmedabad Police. Desai reported that two individuals posing as Paytm representatives informed him that the monthly charge for the Paytm Sound Box had been reduced to Rs 1. Trusting their claim, Desai allowed the scammers to access his mobile phone, banking applications, and passwords. The fraudsters then transferred Rs 6 lakh in two transactions from his account. As a result, an investigation was launched under various IPC sections and the IT Act.
Hardik Mankadia, the Additional Commissioner of Police, revealed that the gang targeted shopkeepers by impersonating Paytm employees. They offered fake schemes to lure victims, gaining access to their bank account details. Once the fraud was complete, the scammers deleted transaction notifications and transferred the stolen funds to illegal online gaming accounts.
So far, a total of nine gang members have been arrested, including the six recent arrests. Mankadia confirmed that Brijesh Patel and Pritam Suthar were the primary masterminds behind the operation. Patel, a former Paytm employee dismissed in 2021 due to fraud allegations, formed the gang in 2022, specifically targeting shopkeepers using Paytm Sound Boxes.
Patel coordinated the illegal transactions through gaming accounts and acquired fake SIM cards from Rajasthan. His co-conspirators, including Govind Khatik, Parag Mistry, Raj Patel, and Delux Suthar, were responsible for various roles within the gang, from accessing bank accounts to executing fraudulent transfers.
Pritam Suthar, also a former Paytm employee, joined Patel in 2022. Suthar used fake accounts and SIM cards for money transfers and has a criminal history, with over 10 cases against him in Rajasthan, including charges of murder and assault in Pali and Sirohi districts.
This gang defrauded shopkeepers across 10 to 12 districts in Gujarat, accumulating over Rs 1 crore in illicit gains. An ongoing investigation continues to unravel the full extent of the scam.
