New Delhi | A shocking fraud case has surfaced at Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital premises in New Delhi, where two accused allegedly tricked a delivery executive posing as customers and escaped with four refurbished laptops worth ₹94,000. Police have registered a case of criminal conspiracy and cheating based on the victim’s complaint and CCTV footage and have started efforts to identify and arrest the accused.
According to police, the victim, identified as Pradeep Kumar (27), is a resident of Sarita Vihar and works with a company based in Greater Noida that deals in refurbished laptops. On July 5, the company received an order for four laptops through an unknown WhatsApp number. The deal was finalised for ₹94,000, including two Dell and two Lenovo laptops.
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As per the investigation, Pradeep reached Kali Bari Marg in New Delhi on the evening of July 8 to deliver the laptops as scheduled. The customer allegedly called him and asked him to come near Gate Number 6 of RML Hospital. The accused then took him inside the hospital premises near the staff canteen, where another accomplice was already waiting.
Police said the second accused started checking the laptop boxes. During this time, the first accused allegedly told Pradeep that he would take him on his scooter to collect the payment and return shortly. Trusting him, Pradeep sat on the accused’s blue-coloured scooter.
Investigators said the accused had already covered the front number plate of the scooter with a red scarf, apparently to prevent easy identification of the vehicle. After travelling some distance, the accused allegedly told Pradeep that traffic police were ahead and asked him to get down, assuring him that he would pick him up again from further ahead.
According to police, as soon as Pradeep got off the scooter, the accused sped away. When the victim returned to RML Hospital in an auto-rickshaw, he found that the second accused had also disappeared and the four laptops were missing. He immediately informed the police about the incident.
Police officials said the preliminary investigation indicates that the accused carried out the crime as part of a planned conspiracy. They allegedly created a false sense of trust by posing as genuine customers and separated the delivery executive before fleeing with the laptops without making payment.
Investigating teams are examining CCTV footage from the hospital premises and nearby areas to identify the accused. Police are also analysing technical evidence, including the scooter details, mobile numbers used for communication and movement patterns of the suspects.
According to the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF), frauds involving online purchases and deliveries are increasingly carried out through fake customer identities, where criminals gain the confidence of sellers before committing theft or financial fraud. Sellers should verify customer details, confirm payment before handing over goods and remain cautious about unusual delivery requests or suspicious behaviour.
The investigation is currently underway. Police officials said efforts are being made to identify and arrest the accused based on technical evidence and other available clues.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
