Gonda. Taking advantage of the crowd gathering in the markets during festivals, cyber thugs are now targeting the digital payment systems installed at the shops. A similar incident came to light at a sweet shop during Diwali in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, where a young man pasted his code over the original QR code. After this, customers bought sweets and paid, but instead of reaching the shopkeeper's account, the money kept getting transferred to another account.
The incident took place at a sweet shop in Nagar Kotwali area. According to shop owner Omi Sindhi, there was a huge crowd of customers on the occasion of Diwali. Meanwhile, a young man wearing a red shirt reached the shop and seeing the opportunity, pasted his QR code on the payment QR code installed on the counter. Due to the crowd, the shopkeeper and the people present there were not even aware of it.
Payment successful, but amount not reached shopkeeper's account
After changing the QR code, customers continued to make online payments by scanning the same. A message that the payment was successful was also visible on his mobile, but the money was not being deposited in the shopkeeper's account. Initially the shopkeeper and his family suspected a network problem. When the amount did not reach the account even after several transactions, he checked the QR code. Then it was discovered that another code had been pasted over the original code.
Young man changing QR code seen in CCTV footage
After the matter came to light, the recordings of the CCTV cameras installed in the shop were scrutinized. In the footage, a young man wearing a red shirt was seen tampering with the QR code. The shopkeeper says that the young man had placed his QR code at two places in the shop. According to him, at least three to four such transactions took place, the amount of which did not reach his account.
The shopkeeper came to know about the mistake when his nephew informed him that the payment amount had not been credited to his account. After this he got the CCTV footage checked and contacted the police.
Police registered a case, cyber cell is investigating
Omi Sindhi has lodged a complaint in the city police station and has also handed over the CCTV footage to the police. According to CO City Yogendra Singh, a complaint has been received about customers' money being sent to another account by tampering with the shop's QR code. A case has been registered in the matter and investigation is being done with the help of surveillance and cyber cell. Police is trying to identify the youth on the basis of footage and other evidence.
This incident has highlighted the need for vigilance for shopkeepers as well as customers making digital payments. After scanning the QR code at a shop, it is important to check the recipient's name and amount visible on the screen before confirming the payment.