Overview

• Investigators identified the accused as Mohammed Moin Uddin, 31, Mohammed Syed Salman alias Sultan, 21, and Mohammed Hussain, 32.
• The 68-year-old lost his phone during a shared ride from Uppal to Tarnaka on September 17 and detected unauthorized debits totaling ₹1.95 lakh on September 20.
• Police say the auto driver induced a trial transfer using PhonePe, watched the victim unlock the device, then the phone was stolen and used for QR-code payments at petrol pumps and shops.
• About ₹90,000 was funneled in small amounts to gaming-platform-linked accounts and withdrawn through Hussain’s Federal Bank account before the proceeds were shared.
• Officers seized three mobile phones, issued an advisory urging caution with payment apps in shared transport, and asked victims to report quickly via helpline 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in as the probe continues.