An event management company in Ahmedabad has fallen victim to a sophisticated digital fraud, losing more than Rs 4.4 lakh during the Navratri festival season. The scam involved a man who posed as a ticket buyer and used fake screenshots of bank transfers to obtain hundreds of high-value garba passes without ever making a payment.
The Modus Operandi of the Garba Ticket Scam
The incident revolves around garba events organized by the company at the Infocity Club in Gandhinagar in September last year. According to the police complaint, the fraud began on September 25 around 3 PM. The complainant, who was near Infocity with her husband and staff, received a call from an unknown number.
The caller expressed interest in purchasing 14 passes for an event held on September 21. Agreeing on a rate of Rs 10,000 per pass, the total came to Rs 1.40 lakh. The company owner shared her bank details. Shortly after, the caller sent a WhatsApp screenshot purportedly showing a "transaction success" message. Trusting this proof, the company released the 14 passes to a porter sent by the caller.
Second Fraudulent Transaction and Discovery
The scam did not end there. The very next day, while the complainant was at the event venue, she received another call from the same number. This time, the fraudster ordered 31 more passes for the September 27 event, amounting to Rs 3.10 lakh. He followed the same pattern, sending another screenshot claiming the transfer was complete. The passes were handed over again.
It was only after the festive events concluded that the company checked its bank account and made the shocking discovery. No money had been credited from either transaction, totaling Rs 4.40 lakh. When confronted, the caller first concocted a story about an RTGS transfer and claimed the amount was debited from his account. However, he later refused to make the payment altogether.
Police Action and Legal Framework
The event company filed a formal complaint at the Infocity police station. Law enforcement officials have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal breach of trust and cheating. This case highlights the growing risk of digital payment frauds where fake screenshots are used to deceive businesses, especially during high-volume seasons like festivals.
The incident serves as a stark warning to event organizers, vendors, and small businesses to verify all payments directly in their bank accounts before delivering goods or services. Relying on screenshots or payment messages, which can be easily forged, can lead to significant financial losses.
