Ahmedabad: A reputed paint company was cheated of Rs 46.87 lakh after a fake QR code of the company was created. The funds were transferred to 35 different accounts.
The complaint was registered by a 41-year-old employee of the firm against a Nikol resident. The complaint stated that his company introduced a scheme where contractors and workers associated with colour work would receive Re 1 for every 5 points earned through purchasing the products. This scheme was managed through an online app where each product was assigned a QR code. When scanned, the points were credited to the contractor's or worker's account.
The complaint stated that to be a part of the scheme, a person had to register on the app and provide address proof, including Aadhaar card, PAN card, bank account details, and business partner number. A maximum of 500 points could be awarded per product.
The complainant stated that during the 2023-24 annual audit by the company, it was discovered that a contractor residing in Nikol used fake QR codes to make a transaction of Rs 2.50 lakh into his personal bank account. This amount exceeded the purchase of goods, leading to further audits. The complainant stated that further audit revealed that QR codes were created, resulting in fraudulent transactions totalling Rs 46.87 lakh.
The complainant stated that it appeared that funds were transferred to around 35 different bank accounts.