Fake Payment App Fraud in Pune: Rickshaw Driver Held for Duping People at Cash Deposit Machines; How the Trick Works
Pune police arrested a man who allegedly used a fake payment app to cheat people at cash deposit machines. How the scam works and how to avoid it.
Photo: Ajay Tallam / CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pune, 1st November 2026: Koregaon Park police have arrested a 25-year-old autorickshaw driver from Fursungi who allegedly cheated people at bank cash deposit machines by showing them a fake payment app. Rohit Subhash Chavan was caught within 12 hours of a case being registered, Punekar News reported.
His alleged associate is still on the run, so the trick may still be in use in the city.
How the trick worked
Police say Chavan approached people standing at cash deposit machines inside bank ATM kiosks. He offered to send them money by UPI in exchange for their cash, which sounds helpful if you need digital money in a hurry.
He then used a fake payment app that showed a “payment successful” screen. By the time the victims checked their bank accounts and found nothing had arrived, he had left with the cash.
The arrest
Acting on a tip-off during the investigation of the Koregaon Park case (FIR No. 177/2026), police traced Chavan to Raj Mobile Shop near Shivaji Chowk in Kamshet, in Maval taluka. He allegedly tried to run but was caught.
During questioning he allegedly admitted to two similar offences with an associate, Karan Prakash Chavan, who is absconding. Cases are registered at the Koregaon Park and Kharadi police stations, and police have seized property worth Rs 60,000, including a mobile phone and an autorickshaw.
The action was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajlaxmi Shivarkar, with Koregaon Park senior inspector Vijaykumar Doke. Sub-inspector Narendra Shinde is investigating further.
Police have not said how much money the victims lost or which ATMs were targeted. The charges have not been proven in court.
How to protect yourself
- Don’t trust a payment screen on someone else’s phone. Fake apps copy the look of real UPI apps exactly.
- Check your own bank app or SMS for the credit before you hand over any cash. A genuine UPI credit shows within seconds.
- Don’t exchange cash with strangers at ATMs or deposit machines, however polite they are.
- Never share an OTP or your screen with someone offering to help with a transaction.
If you have been cheated, call the national cyber crime helpline 1930 immediately or report it on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal, then file a complaint at your nearest police station. Reporting within the first hour gives the best chance of freezing the money.
Such scams rise during festivals, when people carry more cash. Read our guide on protecting your phone and UPI apps from new-age scams, and follow more city news in our Pune section.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fake payment app scam at ATMs?
A stranger offers to send you money by UPI in exchange for cash, then shows a fake “payment successful” screen and leaves with your cash.
How can I check if a UPI payment is real?
Look for the credit in your own bank app or a bank SMS. Never rely on the sender’s phone screen.
Where do I report UPI fraud in Pune?
Call the cyber crime helpline 1930 or use cybercrime.gov.in, and then file a complaint at your local police station.
