CHENNAI: A 21-year-old man and his 20-year-old wife were arrested for allegedly conning more than 100 people using fraudulent GPay messages, police said. The couple — Rizwan and Sharmila Banu, residents of Old Mosque Road in Sugunapuram — had recently married and were on the run after cheating multiple victims.
Two days ago, the duo approached a man named Sakthivel near Telungupalayam, claiming they needed ₹2,000 urgently for a medical emergency. They told him they had forgotten their ATM card and requested cash, assuring him they would transfer the amount via Google Pay. To gain his trust, they showed a fake confirmation message suggesting the money had been sent.
Believing them, Sakthivel handed over the money — and even gave more when they returned with a similar plea. But when he checked his bank account and found no deposit, he filed a complaint with the Koundampalayam police.
Acting swiftly, a special team tracked the couple using CCTV footage and their bike registration number. They were apprehended within a day.
Investigations revealed that the couple had used this tactic on at least 112 people, duping victims of over ₹2 lakh in total. They used fabricated GPay messages to trick unsuspecting Good Samaritans before fleeing the scene.
The accused were presented before court and have been remanded in judicial custody.