Ahmedabad Resident Falls Victim to Rs 25.83 Lakh Franchise Scam
A 31-year-old resident of Maninagar in Ahmedabad has been defrauded of a staggering Rs 25.83 lakh in an elaborate scam involving fraudsters impersonating representatives of a popular quick commerce company. The victim, who runs a pharmaceutical distribution business, lodged a formal complaint with the cybercrime police on Tuesday, sparking an investigation into the sophisticated deception.
How the Scam Unfolded
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the complainant had been actively searching for franchise opportunities in August last year. After submitting his contact details on multiple websites, he received an email from an ID claiming to be associated with a major quick commerce brand. The email offered him a lucrative franchise opportunity, prompting him to engage further.
The fraudsters employed a multi-step approach to gain his trust:
- He was asked to fill out a registration form and submit sensitive documents, including Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, GST number, and office location information.
- Upon compliance, he was informed that his application had been approved for setting up a "mega dark store" franchise in his area.
- To appear legitimate, the accused initially shared bank account details in the company's name and assured him that all payments would be fully refundable.
Escalating Financial Losses
The victim first transferred Rs 49,560 as a registration fee. Subsequently, he was coerced into paying additional amounts under various pretexts, such as:
- NOC (No Objection Certificate) clearance fees
- Franchise licence charges
- Security deposits
- Agreement charges
- Inventory costs
Police reports indicate that the victim remained in constant contact with the accused via email and WhatsApp throughout August and September 2025. After each payment, he received invoices bearing the company's name, which reinforced his belief in the genuineness of the process. In total, he transferred Rs 25.83 lakh to multiple bank accounts provided by the fraudsters.
The Final Betrayal and Investigation
The scammers further assured him that officials would visit his proposed office location in Ahmedabad for verification before launching the franchise. However, when he repeatedly followed up for this site verification, the accused abruptly stopped responding and switched off their phones. Realising he had been cheated, the victim contacted the cybercrime helpline and filed a formal complaint.
Cybercrime police have now initiated a comprehensive probe, focusing on the email IDs, phone numbers, and bank accounts used in the fraud. Authorities are actively working to trace the accused and prevent similar incidents in the future. This case highlights the growing sophistication of online scams targeting aspiring entrepreneurs.
