Hyderabad man duped of Rs. 5.4L in fake franchise scam impersonating Shadowfax
Hyderabad: A 35-year-old man from Bahadurpura has fallen victim to an online fraud after being duped of ₹5.47 lakh by an individual impersonating a representative of Shadowfax Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
The victim, who was looking to start a parcel delivery business, found what he believed was a legitimate opportunity during an online search. He was contacted by someone identifying himself as Arun Kumar Sinha, claiming to be a Relationship Manager with Shadowfax.
Encouraged by initial conversations, the victim was persuaded to pursue a master franchise. Sinha laid out a series of formalities and requested payments under various heads, including registration, agreement, NOC, token, and machine charges. The victim paid a total of ₹5,47,497 in multiple transactions.
After an initial payment of ₹45,500, the victim received a Letter of Intent and login credentials to what appeared to be an official franchise portal, which further built his trust in the process. However, after completing all payments, the fraudster demanded an additional ₹1,14,500 for insurance. This raised suspicion, and when the victim questioned the demand and asked for a refund, all communication ceased and the contact number became unreachable. Realising he had been cheated, the victim approached the Cyber Crime Police Station to file a complaint.
Public Advisory:
The public is advised to exercise caution before investing in franchise or business opportunities, especially when approached online.
- Always verify such offers directly through official contact information listed on the company’s website.
- Avoid transferring money to personal bank accounts.
- Visit the company’s official office when possible.
- Look up the contact number or offer online to check for complaints or warnings.
- Keep a record of all communication and payment proofs.
Victims of cyber fraud should immediately call 1930 or report at cybercrime.gov.in. In case of emergencies, contact or WhatsApp at 8712665171.
