Vadodara. A medical equipment trader in Gujarat’s Vadodara was allegedly cheated of ₹3.13 lakh after cyber fraudsters posed as employees of a military hospital in Ahmedabad and offered her a seemingly genuine equipment supply order. The fraudsters first contacted the trader claiming that the hospital required patient warming units and trolleys and subsequently issued a purported purchase order for three units of each item. They later persuaded her to make multiple online transactions on the pretext of completing vendor registration and processing payment, resulting in the alleged transfer of ₹3,13,004.
Vadodara Cyber Crime Police have registered a case against unidentified persons based on a complaint filed by 40-year-old Payalben Thakkar. A resident of the Gorwa area, Thakkar operates a medical equipment supply business on Gotri Road. Police are examining bank transactions, mobile numbers and other digital evidence to identify those allegedly involved in the fraud.
Proposal for Conducting Cyber Crisis Drill, Tabletop Exercise (TTEx) & CCMP Readiness Exercise
First Call Came on August 26
According to the complaint, the fraud began on August 26 when a man identifying himself as Krunal Chaudhary contacted Thakkar. He claimed to be a store manager at a hospital in Ahmedabad and asked her for prices of patient warming units and trolleys.
After receiving the quotation, the caller allegedly placed an order for three patient warming units and three trolleys. The purchase order, purportedly issued in the name of the hospital, convinced the trader that she had received a genuine business deal. The fraudsters then allegedly used that confidence to move to the next stage of the operation.
Second Imposter Approached Her for Payment Processing
On September 3, another man contacted the trader. Identifying himself as Kuldeep Singh, he claimed to be an accountant at the Military Hospital in Ahmedabad. He allegedly told her that the payment against the purchase order could be released only after she completed the vendor registration process.
The caller further claimed that failure to complete the registration through her bank account could delay the payment. Relying on these assurances, the trader allegedly followed the instructions given to her and carried out the online transactions.
₹5 Test Transaction Followed by ₹3.13 Lakh Transfer
According to the complaint, the fraudsters initially asked Thakkar to conduct a ₹5 test transaction. After this, they allegedly instructed her to make several additional online payments as part of the purported vendor registration and payment procedure.
Through these transactions, a total of ₹3,13,004 was allegedly transferred from the trader. At the time, she believed that she was completing a formal process required to receive payment from the hospital. It was only later that she realised the purchase order itself was allegedly fraudulent.
Employee Reached Hospital With Equipment, Exposed the Fraud
The fraud came to light when an employee of Thakkar’s firm reached the Ahmedabad Military Hospital to deliver the equipment mentioned in the purchase order. Hospital officials reportedly informed the employee that no such purchase order had been issued by the hospital.
After receiving this information, Thakkar realised that she had allegedly been targeted in a cyber fraud. She subsequently approached the Vadodara Cyber Crime Police Station and lodged a complaint. Police have registered a case against unidentified persons and begun examining the digital and financial trail.
Police Tracking Money Trail and Digital Evidence
Investigators are trying to determine which mobile numbers and digital platforms were allegedly used by the fraudsters to contact the trader. Police are also tracing the ₹3.13 lakh transferred during the transactions to determine the accounts that received the money and whether the funds were subsequently moved elsewhere.
The case highlights a fraud pattern in which scammers allegedly use the names of government departments, hospitals and military institutions to establish credibility. They may first send fake purchase orders or business proposals and then demand payments in the name of vendor registration, payment processing, taxes, security deposits or other formalities.
Cybercrime experts advise businesses to independently verify any purchase order received in the name of a government or military institution through the organisation’s official contact channels. Traders should also avoid following instructions from unknown callers to access bank accounts, conduct test transactions or transfer money for registration or payment-related procedures.
Vadodara Cyber Crime Police are continuing their investigation to identify the suspects and trace the movement of the allegedly defrauded money. Investigators will also examine whether the accused may have used the same method to target other businesses.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/policetechnology
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.
