QR code scam in MP’s Khajuraho: Fraudsters target businesses, divert payments
Bhopal: Several businesses in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho were caught off guard when payments made by customers via QR codes failed to reach their accounts, media reports said.
CCTV footage later revealed that fraudsters had swapped the payment scanners overnight, pasting new QR codes over the original ones, reported NDTV.
The scam affected around six enterprises, with payments being redirected to accounts linked to the unidentified culprits.
Among the victims was Omvati Gupta, owner of Rajesh Medical Stores, the report said.
She discovered the fraud when a customer informed her that the linked account name on the QR code had been changed, according to the report.
A petrol pump was also targeted.
"Customers transferred money, but it wasn’t showing in our account. Upon inspection, we found the name on the scanner linked to ‘Chotu Tiwari,’ so we removed it," NDTV quoted an employee as saying.
Khajuraho police station in-charge Atul Dixit acknowledged the complaints but noted that no formal FIRs had been filed by the affected traders.
He assured that an investigation was underway and expressed optimism about apprehending the fraudsters soon.
The scam comes amidst growing concerns over cyber fraud in Madhya Pradesh.
In the recent winter session of the Vidhan Sabha, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav presented alarming statistics.
In 2024, the state reported 26 cases of “digital arrest” scams, where fraudsters impersonated law enforcement agencies to extort over Rs 12.6 crore—a staggering 130% rise from 2023, which saw just one case involving Rs 96,968.
Of the Rs 12.6 crore lost in 2024, only Rs 72.38 lakh (5.74%) was recovered. Overall, cyber fraud resulted in losses exceeding Rs 150 crore across Madhya Pradesh in 2023 and 2024.
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