In the heart of Old Delhi, amidst the historic chaos of Chandni Chowk, a sophisticated digital payment fraud has been uncovered, leading to the arrest of a 19-year-old from Rajasthan. The accused allegedly manipulated the ubiquitous QR codes used for UPI transactions, siphoning off large sums of money from unsuspecting shopkeepers and customers.
The Modus Operandi: A High-Tech Swindle
The accused, identified as Manish Verma, a resident of Chaksu in Jaipur district, orchestrated a near-invisible scam. According to police, Verma exploited the deep reliance of merchants on quick digital payments. His method involved contacting vendors online, expressing interest in their products, and requesting their UPI QR codes under the guise of making a payment.
Once he received the legitimate QR code image, Verma would use AI software to alter the embedded payment information, linking it to his own bank account instead of the shopkeeper's. He would then send this modified QR code back to the vendor. In some instances, these edited codes would automatically save to the vendor's phone gallery, appearing identical but with the crucial bank details swapped.
The Case That Cracked the Scheme
The fraud came to light on December 13, when a customer filed a formal complaint. The customer had purchased a lehenga priced at Rs 2.50 lakh from a garment store in the area. The payment was made in two UPI transactions of Rs 90,000 and Rs 50,000 by scanning QR codes displayed at the shop.
"Despite showing payment confirmation screenshots, the shop owner informed the customer that the amount was not credited to the shop's official bank account," said DCP (North) Raja Banthia. This discrepancy triggered a police investigation.
Inter-State Investigation and Arrest
Police examined the shop's billing system, transaction records, and digital payment setup. A forensic analysis of the UPI transaction trail revealed that the payments were diverted to a bank account not linked to the shop. Further scrutiny pointed the investigation towards Rajasthan.
Following an inter-state operation, police traced and apprehended the account holder, Manish Verma, in Jaipur district. During interrogation, police revealed that Verma allegedly drew inspiration from a South Indian film where the protagonist uses a similar method, pasting his own QR codes over those of shopkeepers.
DCP Banthia elaborated on the technique: "When someone needed to pay, they would use these saved, altered QR codes from their gallery. The payment would appear successful on the customer's phone, but the money would never reach the intended merchant."
The case highlights a growing vulnerability in India's rapidly digitizing payment ecosystem, where trust in QR codes is absolute. It serves as a stark warning for both merchants and customers to verify payment confirmations directly with their bank accounts and to be cautious about storing or using QR codes received from unverified sources.
