Chandigarh police uncovers over 36 smartphone fraud cases in 8 months

In Panchkula, an FIR was filed against 16 people, who procured 16 iphone-7 sets worth Rs 8.96 lakh in lieu of fake documents with Bajaj Finance dating back to June. On September 27, Chandigarh Police booked one Subodh Kumar, who had procured Samsung J7 Pro after submitting fake documents, but failed to arrest him as his misdeeds was detected by the insurance company later.

Rajesh Yadav, head of the fraud control department of Bajaj Finance Ltd, informed Chandigarh Newsline, “We have detected more than 36 cases, in which people submitted fake documents, including Aadhaar card, PAN card, salary slips and residential proofs and got financed costly smartphones with making minimal down payment at different shops in the last eight months. In some of the cases, FIRs were filed and some of the cases are being probed by Chandigarh Police.”

Police sources said a complaint against 12 people, who procured 12 iphones with fake documents, has been pending with Sector 39 police station. Another complaint against 22 people is pending with Sector 22 police post and a similar complaint against four people is pending with Sector 17 PS.

Sudhir Kukreja, representative of another finance company in Mohali which used to finance smartphones, said, “We have told the representatives of our company to stay very alert while accepting the identity proofs of customers, who want to purchase gadgets on finance.”

Sub-Inspector Juldan Singh, who filed an FIR against Subodh Kumar, said, “Efforts are being made to trace Subhodh, which has turned out to be a fictitious identity. Other complaints, pending with Chandigarh Police, are also being probed parallel with the recent registered case.”

Police said a record from Panchkula police, which booked 16 people in June, has also been obtained to nail the culprits.