AHMEDABAD: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested two unemployed graduates from Rajasthan for allegedly running an online scam that defrauded Garba enthusiasts of around Rs 8 lakh by selling counterfeit passes on Instagram. The suspects, who reportedly marketed tickets for 25 different festive events, duped buyers by distributing 686 fake passes generated with artificial intelligence and fitted with non-functional barcodes and QR codes.
The accused have been identified as Virendrasinh Rathod, 21, who completed a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Silver Oak University in Ahmedabad, and Kishan Singh Rathod, 22, a Bachelor of Science graduate. Both men are residents of Rajasthan and were apprehended in Sikar after police tracked their digital trail across multiple cities, including Jodhpur and Bikaner.
Investigators said the fraudulent operation ran between August 19 and October 14. An official complaint was registered on October 16 under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Information Technology Act, following an earlier case lodged against the pair at Santej police station in Gandhinagar district on October 3.
Social Media Deception and Artificial Intelligence
According to investigators, the accused set up a polished Instagram profile under the handle ‘veer.rajjputt’ and created fake email accounts to pose as the official management of the Anant Brahmand Garba event. Using the event’s name and official logo without authorisation, they launched targeted advertisements on Meta platforms to reach people living near scheduled dance venues.
One promotional post alone drew approximately 40,000 views across Ahmedabad. Police revealed that the duo turned to ChatGPT to generate convincing promotional messages and craft pass layouts that matched genuine venue tickets. Counterfeit passes were equipped with realistic barcodes and QR codes to reassure buyers that they were securing legitimate entry at discounted rates.
Financial Trail and Digital Evasion
Once prospective buyers responded to social media advertisements, the accused shifted communications to WhatsApp under the persona ‘Veer Rajput’. After collecting payments online, they sent booking confirmation notices referencing various Garba events to delay suspicion and prevent victims from reporting the transactions promptly.
Initial inquiries revealed that payments were routed into an HDFC Bank account registered to one of the accused. Detectives are now scrutinising these transactions to discover whether the proceeds were transferred to other accounts or withdrawn in cash, while also investigating the potential use of mule bank accounts.
Despite facing an existing police case in Gandhinagar, the accused continued to advertise passes while shifting their base across Rajasthan. Crime Branch officials eventually located the pair in Sikar by combining technical surveillance of mobile devices, email addresses, and WhatsApp accounts with field intelligence.
Investigation and Advisory for Event Attendees
The Cyber Cell is continuing its examination of 686 fake passes sold during the festive period. Technical teams have seized mobile phones and are examining WhatsApp chats, Instagram logs, and banking records to trace the total funds collected and identify any wider network or accomplices involved in the racket.
In the wake of the arrests, police have urged members of the public to purchase event tickets exclusively through verified organiser portals and official booking platforms. Officials cautioned consumers to remain skeptical of social media advertisements that offer festival passes at steep discounts below standard rates. Citizens suspecting cyber fraud have been advised to call the national cybercrime helpline at 1930 or submit details on the national reporting portal.
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