Jharsuguda/Bhubaneswar: On Friday, police in Jharsuguda dismantled a fraudulent cash-exchange scheme involving two suspects who allegedly deceived shopkeepers by presenting false UPI payment success screenshots. These scammers managed to convince shopkeepers to hand over cash without executing any legitimate digital transactions. Jharsuguda Superintendent of Police Gundala Reddy Raghavendra stated, “We have arrested two local residents, Ranjan Barik (29) and Md Sahbaj (36). They employed a strategy where they requested cash in exchange for purported UPI transfers, providing fake payment confirmation screenshots as proof.”
Local shopkeepers reported numerous complaints after falling victim to this scam, which has seen the fraudsters swindle a total of Rs 45,400 over the past few weeks. The accused utilized a counterfeit payment interface that closely resembled a genuine UPI application, complete with a fabricated success message, transaction details, and sounds mimicking actual payment confirmations. Misled by these fraudulent messages, the shopkeepers handed over cash to the suspects.
Police are urging the public to be cautious and not to trust screenshots, success notifications, or payment sounds displayed on mobile devices. It is essential to verify any incoming funds in one’s own bank account or through a legitimate UPI or merchant application prior to exchanging cash or goods.
According to the authorities, this type of scam involves tricking victims into believing that a UPI transaction has been successfully conducted, even though no funds have been moved. Scammers often utilize fake payment screenshots, counterfeit UPI applications, altered transaction receipts, or bogus payment notifications to fabricate the illusion of a successful transaction. “We recommend that users confirm received payments directly via their bank account or official UPI app, rather than relying on screenshots, SMS alerts, or notifications shown by the payer. Fraudsters frequently present edited or falsified payment screenshots to persuade merchants that a transaction has occurred when, in fact, no money has been transferred,” the SP emphasized.
