Ahmedabad Police Cracks Down on Sophisticated E-commerce Fraud Racket
The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch has achieved a significant breakthrough by dismantling a highly organized interstate criminal network. This gang was allegedly involved in a sophisticated scheme to defraud major e-commerce giants, including Flipkart and Amazon, by manipulating their delivery systems and swapping premium electronic devices with counterfeit products, according to police statements released on Saturday.
Modus Operandi: Infiltration and Substitution
Investigations revealed that the syndicate operated with meticulous planning. They strategically placed their associates as delivery personnel within various courier services across multiple cities, notably Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Jalore. Utilizing a network of fabricated user identities and passwords, the gang would place orders for expensive electronics through the e-commerce platforms.
The fraud unfolded in several stages:
- An insider within the delivery chain would intercept the parcels before they reached the legitimate customers.
- Using specialized tools, the accused would carefully open the sealed packages without damaging the exterior.
- They would remove the original high-value devices, such as smartphones and smartwatches.
- These genuine items were then replaced with convincing lookalike dummy products.
- The tampered orders were subsequently cancelled or processed for return through the platforms' systems.
The stolen premium gadgets were then funneled into the grey market, where they were sold for substantial profits, completing the illicit cycle.
Arrests and Recoveries
In a coordinated operation, the Crime Branch apprehended five key individuals identified as Ramlal alias Romil Gahlot, Manoj Kumar Mali, Bharat Kumar Sundesha, Vishal Hasmukhbhai Panchal, and Vishal Kanjibhai Bavri. Authorities are actively pursuing two additional suspects, Rishipal Bhati and Vinod, who remain at large.
During raids, police seized substantial evidence, including:
- Eight genuine mobile phones
- Twenty-five dummy mobile phones
- Three counterfeit earbuds
- Twelve fake gaming processors
- A camera lens
- An electric hair dryer
Confessions and Previous Incidents
During interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to orchestrating multiple similar frauds over recent months. Police documentation indicates the gang's criminal activities included:
In January 2026, they fraudulently obtained an iPhone 17 Pro Max and three iPhone 16 Pro units in Vadodara. In October 2025, they stole seven mobile phones and ten Apple Watches in Surat. In December 2025, they took two Apple Watches in Jalore.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
The accused have been charged under Sections 61(2)(a) and 316(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation continues as authorities work to trace the remaining fugitives and uncover the full extent of the racket's operations and connections.
This case highlights emerging vulnerabilities in e-commerce logistics and underscores the importance of stringent verification processes within delivery networks to prevent such insider-enabled fraud.
