A 19-year-old entrepreneur from Rajkot has filed a complaint with the Rajkot City Cybercrime police after allegedly being defrauded of Rs 29 lakh by scammers impersonating representatives of a popular clothing brand. The fraudsters lured him with a fake franchise opportunity.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to the complaint, Hitarth Amipara, a resident of Gitanagar who operates a metal parts manufacturing unit in Metoda GIDC, was seeking to expand his business. In April, he searched online for a franchise of SNITCH Apparels Private Limited and filled out an application form on what appeared to be the company's official website.
Police reported that shortly after submitting the application, Amipara was contacted by an individual claiming to be the company's franchise manager. The caller shared official-looking documents via email and guided him through what seemed to be a legitimate franchise onboarding process.
Payments and False Promises
After reviewing the documents, the accused informed Amipara that his proposed franchise location had been approved. He was then asked to make several payments, including a token amount, NOC charges, a security deposit, and administrative fees. Believing the offer to be genuine, Amipara transferred Rs 29 lakh through RTGS transactions to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters. To further convince him of the franchise's authenticity, the scammers sent an appointment letter inviting him to visit the company's purported head office in Bengaluru.
Discovery of the Fraud
The fraud came to light when the accused demanded an additional Rs 21 lakh for store fit-out expenses. Suspecting foul play, Amipara refused to make further payments and requested a refund of the amount already paid. According to the complaint, the accused assured him that the money would be refunded within 40 days. However, no refund was made. Later, the complainant received an anonymous email stating that the franchise offer, documents, and previous communications were fraudulent. Following this, the family contacted the National Cyber Crime Helpline and subsequently filed a police complaint.
Police Action
Police have registered a case against unidentified persons under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. Efforts are underway to identify the accused through the bank accounts, mobile numbers, and email IDs linked to the transactions.
