The group works from Rohini in Delhi who places ads online on websites, flash fake QR codes while books either do not reach the victims or fake /duplicate NCERT books are sent

New Delhi, April 24

The Delhi Police Crime Branch booked a group of people for allegedly cheating book retailers and sellers across the country by posing as NCERT book wholesalers and selling fake copies of textbooks. 

One if the affected parties, a Namakkal-based bookseller filed a complaint with the police that he was cheated of more than Rs 25 lakh by the accused. 

The complainant had visited a site and found a bookseller in Delhi. He even came to Delhi and placed an order by scanning the QR code, which was forged by the accused along with the order details. He had reportedly placed the order for Rs. 20-21 lakh however the the books never arrived. The accused used to place ads on educational websites and offer huge discounts on expensive books to lure their targets. 

Few days later, he received the order of duplicate/fake copies of NCERT books.  When the complainant called them, they returned Rs. four lakhs to him and then blocked all communication from him. 

According to the police, the accused have been selling fake and duplicate books for a long time. Their modus operandi is to cheat people from across states by pushing online ads on various sites and/or distributing fake books at marketplaces. The QR code, dispatch bills and other shop details given by the accused are all fake. Police said the cheated money was diverted to different accounts.