Multi Crore Ola Scooter Scam Busted, 20 Arrested For Cheating Over 1,000 Customers

NEW DELHI: Delhi’s cybercrime police have foiled a scheme to commit online fraud across the country. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North) Devesh Mahla said on Monday that 20 people had been arrested in connection with the Ola electric scooter fraud case. The suspects hailed from cities including Bengaluru, Haryana, and Patna, Bihar.

The DCP claims that the gang defrauded over a thousand people out of crores of rupees by posing as internet retailers selling electric scooters. The cyber police station got a complaint on October 7, and on October 8 a first information report (FIR) was filed for cheating in this regard under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code. He said the gang had been disbanded after the inquiry.

The investigators allege that two people in Bengaluru created a fake Ola scooters website. Investigators say the gang preyed on innocent people who conduct web searches for information regarding Ola scooters.

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They claimed that the two men from Bengaluru uploaded their information to the internet, then texted and called other members of their gang in other states.

They are then contacted by members of the Bihar and Telangana gangs who, according to the victims, offer them to pay Rs. 499 via the Internet in order to “reserve” an Ola scooter.

Under the guise of “insurance premiums” and “scooty fees,” the gang members then demand that each victim contribute between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000.

On September 26, the complainant used the Ola app in an attempt to reserve an electric scooter, which was the only way to buy the scooter at the time. Since he was trying to fix his money problems, he was unable to finish the process.

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Earlier that day, he got a call from Ola, an electric scooter service. Offline steps were explained to him. The same person called him the following day to inform him of the Rs 499 booking process.

The complainant states that the transaction “began” after he sent payment using the PayU app and received an email from the defendant with a booking confirmation.

The next day, he received an email outlining all of the available funding options; the complainant followed his advice and chose Ola Money. Then he had him make a preliminary deposit of Rs. 30,000 through the PayU app on WhatsApp. He further said that the complainant had agreed to pay Rs. 30,000 down and the rest in monthly instalments under the terms of the financing agreement (EMIs).

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The complainant further claimed to have gotten an email with the sanctioned sum of Rs. 72,000 stated, with the remaining falling on his shoulders. He got in touch with the person again after receiving the email and was urged to pay the bill.

The complainant offered the same amount and asked for the case to begin. Accordingly, he got in touch with the complainant and told him the scooter will be supplied the next day for Rs 13,000, plus the outstanding balance.

Following the receipt of the report, the cyber crime cell launched an investigation and disbanded.

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