Police in Jaipur are set to interrogate a 19-year-old man arrested by Delhi police in connection with a sophisticated, AI-assisted QR code fraud case. This elaborate scam involved the silent diversion of significant UPI payments, leaving both customers and shopkeepers in the dark until their money vanished.
The Mechanics of a Modern Digital Heist
The accused, identified as Manish Verma from Chaksu in Jaipur, exploited the trust and routine of QR-based transactions. According to investigators, Verma discreetly circulated manipulated QR codes that were linked to his personal bank account. Unsuspecting customers who scanned these codes received standard payment confirmations on their phones, creating an illusion of a successful transaction. However, the funds were stealthily routed to Verma's account, never reaching the intended merchant.
During initial questioning, Verma reportedly told police that he drew inspiration from a South Indian film. The film depicted a protagonist who overlays a shopkeeper's QR code with one linked to his own account, a fictional plot that Verma turned into a real-world criminal enterprise.
How the Elaborate Fraud Unraveled
The scheme collapsed after a customer filed a formal complaint. The customer had purchased a lehenga priced at Rs 2.50 lakh from a garment store. The payment was made in two UPI transactions of Rs 90,000 and Rs 50,000 by scanning the QR codes displayed at the shop. Despite providing screenshots that confirmed successful payments, the shop owner confirmed the amount never arrived in the store's official bank account.
This prompted a detailed police investigation. Authorities examined the store's billing system, transaction records, and its entire digital payment setup. A forensic analysis of the UPI transaction trail revealed a critical detail: the payments had been diverted to a bank account that had no connection to the shop. Further scrutiny traced the operations of this account to Rajasthan, which ultimately led investigators to Jaipur district and to the accused, Manish Verma.
AI Software and Deceptive Tactics
Investigators uncovered that Verma's method was both calculated and technologically advanced. He typically contacted vendors online, expressing interest in their products and then requesting their QR codes to facilitate payment. He allegedly used AI-based software to alter the payment details embedded within these QR codes. The modified codes, which directed payments to his account, were then sent back to the vendors.
In several instances, these edited QR codes were automatically saved in the vendors' phone galleries. Alarmingly, the shopkeeper's name on the code often remained unchanged, making the manipulation extremely difficult to detect at a glance. This allowed the fake codes to be displayed to customers without raising immediate suspicion.
A senior Jaipur police official noted that while the FIR was registered in New Delhi and the arrest was made by Delhi police, their team will now question Verma. The primary objective is to ascertain whether he employed the same fraudulent method to cheat merchants within Jaipur. This case highlights a growing and sophisticated threat to India's digital payment ecosystem, urging both consumers and businesses to exercise heightened vigilance.
