Cyber Crime Busts Navratri Ticket Fraud Ring in Ahmedabad

The Ahmedabad Cyber Crime Police have initiated a major investigation into a sophisticated fraud targeting Navratri event passes. The scam, which ran from August 19 to October 14, involved unidentified individuals creating fake online personas, including an Instagram handle and email address, to impersonate organizers of the popular Anant Brahmand Garba event. These perpetrators advertised heavily discounted passes, originally priced between four thousand and ten thousand rupees, to entice unsuspecting citizens. Victims were defrauded into making substantial payments into fraudulent accounts, receiving counterfeit QR codes and seemingly legitimate confirmation emails.

The fraudulent operation was brought to light when attendees cross-verified suspicious offers with the actual management. Recognizing the exploitation of their corporate identity, the company alerted the authorities, resulting in an FIR being filed. DCP Lavina Sinha has cautioned the public against purchasing passes from unofficial sources or social media profiles, emphasizing the importance of using only official links and websites. Citizens encountering suspicious online activity related to ticket sales are urged to report incidents immediately via the helpline number 1930 or at the nearest police station.