The Hyderabad Police on Wednesday nabbed eight youngsters in four separate cases for swindling shopkeepers with a fake Paytm mobile application.
Hyderabad City Commissioner, Anjani Kumar stated that the accused had operated an app called “Paytm spoof”.
“They would enter stores, shop for some items, and request that the bill is paid via Paytm. The app would show that the amount has been paid on the spoof app. The accused would then leave with the purchased items,” the commissioner said.
By the time cashier gets to know about the payment being unsuccessful and not getting credited in their accounts, the tricksters go unnoticed.
Many shop owners complained in numerous cases regarding the cheating to the police. At least 22 pairs of trousers and 20 shirts worth Rs 28,000, sports items costing Rs 8,500, groceries worth Rs 10,700, and a gold ring amounting to Rs 28,000, were seized from their possession.
The criminals have been identified as Mohd Mustafa Hussain Muzakir, Syed Aamir Hassan, Syed Iliyas, Syed Wajeed Ali, Hafeez Rana, Mohd Salman, Mohd Abdul Shahed and Md Yousuf. It is found that they stumbled across the app via online videos and downloaded it from the Google play store.
“The public and shopkeepers are requested to stay alert about such fake apps. They should report such instances immediately to the concerned police authorities,” Mr Anjali kumar added.