A new type of online scam has emerged in Madhya Pradesh, where criminals are swapping QR codes at shops overnight to steal payments meant for the shopkeepers.The scam, which was captured on CCTV, is currently being investigated by the police.
The incident occurred in the Khajuraho region of Chhatarpur district, where QR codes at several locations, including petrol pumps, were swapped with counterfeit ones. In some cases, the fraudulent QR codes were simply pasted over the original ones.
The fraud was disclosed when shopkeepers realized they weren’t getting payments for customer purchases. At a medical store, owner Omvati Gupta noticed the problem when a customer pointed out that the QR code showed the name "Chhotu Tiwari" instead of the store’s name.
Gupta quickly replaced the fake QR code and checked her CCTV footage, which showed three masked men replacing the code during the night. Thanks to her quick actions, she prevented further losses and alerted other shopkeepers about the scam.
A similar incident took place at a petrol pump, where employees found that a fake QR code had replaced the original one. A staff member mentioned that customers had raised concerns about their payments not being credited to the business's account.
Upon checking, employees found the fake QR code with the name "Chhotu Tiwari." Although the fraudulent code was removed, no formal complaint has been filed so far.
In another case, Nitesh Gupta, the owner of a store in Narayana Market, reported a loss of Rs 985 and Rs 10 due to the fake QR code outside his shop. Other affected businesses included a popular biryani and egg shop, a paan shop, and several other local establishments.
Atul Dixit, the In-Charge of Khajuraho Police Station, confirmed they are investigating the issue, though no official complaints have been made by the shopkeepers. "We are looking into it, and the culprits will be caught soon," Dixit stated. Authorities have advised businesses to regularly check their QR codes and report any suspicious activity.