Franchise-seeker cheated online in Ahmedabad

AHMEDABAD: In an example of online search optimization by fraudsters, a man fell in their trap when a tab, offering franchise for a namkeen brand he was searching for, opened automatically in his browser. The victim, Hemal Dalwadi, 45, of Vastral, lost Rs 99,999 by following the instructions on the site displayed in the tab. Dalwadi, who owns a factory in Odhav GIDC, contacted cybercrime police station after he realized he had been cheated, and from there he was sent to Ramol police station to file the complaint on Saturday.
Dalwadi stated he wanted to enter food business and was searching to learn how to get the franchise of a prominent namkeen brand when the incident happened.
“When the tab opened claiming to be the franchise offer page of the same brand, Dalwadi thought it was true and filled in his details on a form,” said a police official. He then received a call from a man posing as a representative of the company who sent him terms and conditions of the company franchise on WhatsApp. He also asked for photos of the place where he wanted to open the franchise and other details, which Dalwadi sent on the WhatsApp number. “The caller approved the location, and asked Dalwadi to pay Rs 99,999 to get the franchise form and for initial processing. He transferred the money from his bank account to the given account on February 12,” a police official said.
Thereafter, the cheats sent Dalwadi a franchise agreement form and asked him to deposit Rs 15,00,000. After reading the agreement, Dalwadi felt something was wrong and he again searched on the internet and this time managed to reach the correct website of the brand. “When he called up the number given on the webpage, a representative of the company told him the brand followed no such procedure to give a franchise. Dalwadi immediately called on the numbers from which he had been receiving calls but found them switched off,” said a police official.