Chennai: The Chetpet Police have arrested two men accused of stealing mobile phones from passengers at Chennai Central Railway Station by posing as helpers for booking train tickets.
The accused, Rajkumar Ram (24) and Dinesh Kumar Mukhiya (21), both from Bihar, reportedly targeted North Indian passengers. On October 13, Birbal (23), a Jharkhand native, was approached by the duo while at the station for his journey home for Deepavali. Claiming they could book his ticket, the men took his phone and UPI credentials, later transferring Rs48,000 from his account.
Acting on the complaint, the Chetpet Police tracked down the suspects near Egmore railway station. Investigations revealed that after the initial crime, the duo traveled to Andhra Pradesh, continuing their scam by stealing mobile phones from passengers sleeping at railway stations.
A total of 18 mobile phones, including Birbal’s, were recovered. Police confirmed that the accused used the victims’ UPI apps to transfer funds, highlighting the growing risk of digital payment fraud at transit hubs.
Authorities have warned travelers to never share mobile phones or UPI credentials with strangers offering assistance at railway stations.
