Bareilly. A ₹23 lakh fraud has come to light involving an online mobile delivery company in Izzatnagar, Bareilly. According to police, the accused posed as customers and supplied the company with counterfeit mobile units, pocketing the payments. Investigations have revealed that all names and addresses provided by the perpetrators were fake.
Fraud Detected After Internal Company Inquiry
The company’s hub in-charge, Khark Singh, said that after the incident came to light, an internal inquiry was conducted. The investigation found that all fraud cases had the delivery address as Delapeer Chowraha. Eight Samsung Galaxy 25 model phones were delivered and exchanged in the Delapeer Damru Chowraha area.
Company records show that the fraud took place between December 8 and 10, resulting in a total loss of ₹23.70 lakh. Based on this, the Izzatnagar police have filed a report against Pawan Chouksey and other unidentified accomplices.
Fake Customers Used Counterfeit Phones in Exchange
Sources say this case differs from the usual customer fraud. The accused formed a gang of fake customers and duped the company’s delivery staff by exchanging counterfeit mobile units while keeping the original phones with themselves. In this way, the company and its staff were systematically defrauded of over ₹23 lakh.
Exchange Policy Exploited in Delivery Process
Khark Singh, a resident of Bageshwar district in Uttarakhand, serves as the hub in-charge for Instracart Services Private Limited and currently resides in Kailashpuram, Delapeer, Izzatnagar. His office is located on Stadium Road in the city. He stated that the company handles deliveries for multiple e-commerce platforms, primarily for Flipkart, and follows strict mobile exchange policies.
Under the company’s mobile exchange policy, customers hand over their original phones to the delivery person when receiving a new device. The delivery personnel are responsible for inspecting the old phone. The accused allegedly exploited this process by exchanging counterfeit assembled units while keeping the original devices with themselves, defrauding the company of significant funds.
Repeated Deliveries at Same Location Raised Suspicion
Police said that preliminary investigations included a thorough review of all evidence and company records. The accused used fake identities and conducted repeated deliveries at the same location in the Delapeer area to perpetuate the fraud. Investigations confirmed that the scheme was professional and well-coordinated, exploiting company procedures.
Experts note that companies and delivery staff must exercise caution in online deliveries and exchanges. Any discrepancies in customer identities, addresses, or device verification can pose severe financial risks to both employees and the organization.
Police Investigation Underway
The Izzatnagar police have stated that the investigation is ongoing and active efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the accused and their accomplices. Authorities have urged the public to report any suspicious activity or irregular transactions immediately.
This case serves as a warning not only to online shopping companies but also highlights the seriousness of fraud through fake customers and counterfeit product exchanges. Experts emphasize that strict adherence to exchange protocols and verification of customer identity are essential to prevent such incidents in the future.
