Mumbai crime news: Online sweet order turns sour; MLA's kin loses Rs 79,492 in digital payment

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A 31-year-old family member of an MLA from Maharashtra's Thane district reportedly fell victim to a digital payment scam, losing Rs 79,492 while attempting to make an online payment for sweets ordered from a local shop, as per police reports on Monday. On November 9, the victim placed an order for sweets from a Bhayander-based shop, with a payment due of Rs 480, according to the complaint lodged with the authorities, news agency PTI reported.

Following the order, the victim received a QR code for the online payment process. However, trouble ensued when she received a phone call, purportedly from the sweet shop. The caller instructed her to carry out additional transactions to complete the payment, which she did in good faith.

It was only later that the victim realized that a total of Rs 79,012 had been debited from her account in two separate transactions, in addition to the original payment of Rs 480, revealed an official from Navghar police station.

Upon filing a complaint with the police, a case was registered on Friday against an unidentified person under Indian Penal Code Section 420 (cheating) and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, the official confirmed.

In a separate incident, a 25-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane found himself at the center of a scam when he ordered a smartphone worth Rs 46,000 online, only to receive a package containing three soap bars instead, according to police reports on Monday.

The victim, employed at a photocopy shop, placed an order for an iPhone through an online shopping platform. However, upon receiving the parcel on November 9, his excitement quickly turned to dismay as he discovered that the package contained three soap bars typically used for dishwashing, cleverly concealed within a carton designed for a mobile phone.

Also read: Thane crime news: Man orders Rs 46,000 iPhone online, receives soap bars instead

An official from the Bhayander police station revealed that the man was evidently cheated by someone who tampered with the parcel during its delivery route.

In response to this deception, the victim promptly filed a police complaint, detailing the unexpected substitution of the high-value smartphone with common household items.

The police registered an offense against the unidentified culprit under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code on Saturday. As investigations unfold, authorities are working to uncover the perpetrator behind this fraudulent act. (With inputs from PTI)