- A 19‑year‑old civil engineering student from Junagadh, Prem Kachadiya, was defrauded of more than ₹22 lakh after being lured by what appeared to be a cement company dealership offer.
- Kachadiya, who also helps run a real estate business with his uncle, contacted a toll‑free number online that claimed to represent a reputable cement firm.
- The fraudsters issued a fake request ID and sent forged documents, including an application form with the company logo, director’s signature, and stamp — all to make the offer seem authentic.
- Convinced by the apparent legitimacy, the student paid an initial ₹38,500 for processing. He then made eight more payments totaling ₹22.05 lakh for various “formalities” like licensing and no‑objection certificates.
- The scammers even promised delivery of 5,000 cement bags — which never arrived — and later offered additional incentives like an SUV if he placed a larger order.
- After growing suspicious, Prem and his uncle realised it was a scam and reportedly filed a complaint with the Junagadh Cyber Crime Police. Investigations are underway to trace the accused and attempt to recover the stolen funds.