Recently, the Chennai police arrested two men for scamming a Trichy-based jeweler of Rs. 40 lakh by pretending to be an Income Tax officer and an auditor. The accused used fake government credentials and VIP car passes to make their act believable.
According to the DT Next, the victim, M Praveen, a 38-year-old director of the Mangal and Mangal jewelry firm in Trichy, filed a complaint after realizing he had been cheated. The incident dates back to 2021 when Praveen visited the GST office for business-related matters. At the GST office, he was approached by one of the accused, Gurusampath Kumar, who introduced himself as an auditor.
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Gurusampath further introduced Praveen to his accomplice, S Lakshminarayanan, who claimed to be an Income Tax official. The duo assured Praveen that they could not only help with GST issues but also arrange gold from banks at cheaper prices. They told convincing stories, claiming insider access and experience with banks.
Trusting them, Praveen discussed the opportunity with his business partners. In August 2021, the jeweler and his firm handed over Rs. 40 lakh in cash to the accused at their office in Chennai. Once they received the money, the two men failed to deliver the promised gold. Despite repeated follow-ups, they neither fulfilled their promise nor returned the money.
Last month, when Praveen tried to contact one of the accused, he was threatened. Quickly, he lodges a formal complaint at the Elephant Gate police station in Chennai. Acting on the complaint, the police launched an investigation and arrested the duo 42-year-old Gurusampath Kumar from Anna Nagar, Chennai, and 46-year-old S Lakshminarayanan from Puducherry. The police also seized their SUV, which had a fake ‘G’ government sticker and bogus VIP car passes bearing the Tamil Nadu government emblem.
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The police are now investigating whether the accused have used the same method to con others. Their use of fake identities, forged credentials, and fraudulent stories suggests they may have targeted more victims.
Taxpayers, Be aware of scammers who constantly devise new strategies to deceive unsuspecting individuals. They often target those who are innocent and quick to trust strangers. Protect your hard-earned money and business by being cautious and verifying all claims.
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