Jharsuguda: Jharsuguda police have arrested two persons for allegedly duping people by displaying fake PhonePe payment success screens and collecting cash without actually transferring the money.
Police identified the accused as Ranjan Barik (29) and Md Sahbaj (36) both from Gumadera of Belpahar
According to police, the case came to light after the accused allegedly approached a person and requested Rs 10,900 in cash, claiming that they would transfer the same amount through PhonePe. After scanning the victim’s QR code, they allegedly displayed a fake successful-payment screen.
Believing that the transaction had been completed, the victim handed over the cash. It was later discovered that no money had actually been credited to the account.
During investigation, police came across several similar complaints involving amounts of Rs 5,000, Rs 3,500, Rs 7,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000. The total amount allegedly involved in the incidents has been pegged at Rs 45,400.
Police seized a mobile phone and a Bajaj Platina motorcycle bearing registration number OR-15-K-7236 from the accused.
In this regard, a case has been registered under Jharsuguda PS Case No. 532 dated September 11, 2026 has been registered under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, read with Section 66-D of the Information Technology Act.
Police said the accused allegedly used an imitated payment interface to make it appear that a PhonePe transaction had been completed even though no payment was actually made. Police clarified that the case does not allege any wrongdoing by the genuine PhonePe platform.
Jharsuguda SP urged shopkeepers and members of the public not to rely solely on payment screenshots, success screens or sounds shown on a customer’s mobile phone.
Jharsuguda SP GR Raghavendra said, “People should verify the credit in their own bank account or genuine UPI or merchant application before handing over cash or goods,” police said, adding that suspicious digital payment transactions should be reported immediately. Police also advised people against installing payment APK files received through unknown links or file-sharing platforms.
