QR code scam hits municipal traders as cybercriminals impersonate officials

Reacting to the situation, Karimnagar Municipal Commissioner Praful Desai issued a public advisory urging traders and citizens not to make payments to unknown callers.

Karimnagar: Cybercriminals posing as municipal officials are targeting traders across various municipalities, demanding online payments under the pretext of trade licences and pending municipal dues.

Several traders from Karimnagar, Ramagundam and other municipal areas have reported receiving such calls. Impersonating municipal commissioners or senior staff, the fraudsters pressure traders into making immediate payments by threatening to seize their establishments if they fail to comply.

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In many cases, the callers insist that the payments be made through QR codes or scanners sent to the victims’ phones. Alarmed by the threats, some traders have transferred money without verification.

In a recent incident, a trader from Karimnagar town received a call on Saturday from a person claiming to be the municipal commissioner, demanding payment for a trade licence.

Intimidated by the threat of closure, the trader paid a portion of the amount. Several others also reported similar experiences but avoided falling prey after cross-checking at the municipal office.

Such incidents were previously reported in Ramagundam municipality, where traders were similarly targeted. While some were duped, others verified the calls before making payments.

Reacting to the situation, Karimnagar Municipal Commissioner Praful Desai issued a public advisory urging traders and citizens not to make payments to unknown callers.

He clarified that cybercriminals were making calls from the mobile number 9121097923, demanding payments for trade licences, water bills, property tax and other municipal services.

The commissioner advised citizens to make payments only at municipal offices, through authorised MCK staff equipped with billing devices, Mee Seva centres, or online via the official CDMA portal using their house number.

Municipal officials have filed a police complaint and urged the public to stay vigilant against such scams.