In a shocking incident in Kochi, the manager of a pizzeria has allegedly cheated the owner out of nearly Rs 18 lakh by manipulating QR codes. Over a period of eight months, the manager, identified as Jithu Das V P, reportedly replaced the shop’s Google Pay QR code with his own personal QR code. This deceitful act resulted in all customer payments being redirected to his personal account. The fraud came to light when a few customers noticed that the manager’s name appeared on their Google Pay accounts instead of the restaurant’s. The owner eventually discovered the scam and promptly terminated the manager’s employment. A case has been registered with the Palarivattom police station, and it is believed to be the first of its kind in the country.
The crime occurred between May 5, 2022, and December 21, 2022, during which time the manager allegedly siphoned off Rs 17.97 lakh from the restaurant’s earnings. What makes the case even more intriguing is that the accused reportedly deleted or canceled bill details in the accounting software to cover up the fraud. The restaurant staff became suspicious when the number of canceled transactions spiked, even though the transactions themselves were successful. The software team identified over 500 canceled transactions, revealing that the funds had been credited to the manager’s bank account. This prompted the owner to file a complaint against the manager.
To unravel the full extent of the fraud, the police are conducting a detailed investigation. They are examining the accused’s bank transaction records and verifying the canceled transactions from the restaurant’s side. If the evidence links the manager to the fraudulent activities, an arrest will be made. This incident serves as a warning for shop owners who accept payments through QR codes to remain vigilant and implement safeguards to prevent such fraudulent activities.
