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U*(Note: I am incredibly stressed and panicked right now, so I used AI to help format my raw thoughts into this structured timeline so it’s easier for you all to read. All the facts, amounts, and timelines below are 100% real and accurate.)*
**TL;DR:** My friend and I (college students in Kolkata) were scammed of ₹12,493 by a fake wholesaler we found on Justdial. They used a legitimate-looking GST number to gain our trust, manipulated us into sending money for “driver/billing errors,” and forced me to take a loan from Slice. I have filed a 1930 complaint. Looking for advice on RBI ombudsman rules and how to hold the GST holder accountable.
**The Background:** My friend and I are students at a science college in Kolkata. To manage expenses, we planned to buy energy drinks in bulk and sell them on campus. We found a supplier on Justdial (WhatsApp number: 8081901679). Before paying, we asked for proof of business. He sent a GST Registration certificate under the name “Santosh Shankar Parab.” We verified this on the government portal, and it was active, which made us drop our guard.
**The Fraud Mechanism:** They used aggressive social engineering and forced a “sunk-cost” fallacy on us:
1. They sent an invoice (which, in hindsight, was full of typos).
2. After the initial payment, they demanded extra money for “driver issues.” The scammer started crying on the phone, claiming his wife just had a baby and he’d lose his job if the bill wasn’t cleared.
3. Later, someone claiming to be the “owner” called, aggressively demanding a ₹5,000 minimum order clearance, threatening that our previous payments were stuck. Out of panic, I took a ₹5k loan from the Slice app to pay it.
4. Once we ran completely out of funds and refused to pay ₹300 for “fuel,” they blocked us.**The Transaction Timeline (Total Loss: ₹12,493 including loan interest):** All this happened within a 3-hour window. Money was sent via UPI to different accounts using Slice, SBI, and Kotak Mahindra Bank:
* **02:15 PM:** ₹2,000 to Saurabh Prajapati
* **02:42 PM:** ₹1,410 to Anand Batham/Kashyap
* **04:04 PM:** ₹3,360 to Rohit
* **05:07 PM:** ₹5,000 to Satyam
* **05:29 PM:** ₹500 to Anand Batham**Actions Taken So Far:**
* Immediately filed a complaint via the **1930 Cyber Helpline** (National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal).
* Reported the transactions as fraud on our UPI apps (GPay, Slice).
* I have full screenshots of the WhatsApp chats, the call logs, the fake invoice, and the UPI transaction IDs.**My Legal Questions:**
1. **The Banks (Slice, SBI, Kotak):** Since this was a UPI transfer authorized by me under false pretenses, do I have any grounds to file a dispute under RBI’s Limited Liability guidelines? Should I escalate to the RBI Ombudsman if the banks refuse to help?
2. **The GST Number:** The scammers used an active GST number. Is there a way the Cyber Cell can track the registered business owner? If the scammers stole someone else’s GST identity, what happens next?
3. **Escalation in West Bengal:** How effective is the 1930 portal in WB? Should I physically visit my local police station to convert this 1930 complaint into an FIR?
4. **Justdial Liability:** Can Justdial be held partially accountable for listing unverified/fraudulent businesses on their platform?I am incredibly stressed as this wiped out my entire monthly allowance and left me with a loan I cannot easily repay. Any practical, legal steps to freeze the destination accounts or recover the funds would be deeply appreciated.
*(Images of the fake invoice and transactions are attached below, personal data blurred).*
[https://postimg.cc/gallery/ZSL2k8f](https://postimg.cc/gallery/ZSL2k8f)
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