Delhi: Woman dupes 5-star hotel of Rs 7 lakh via fake UPI receipts, caught trying to flee

The Indian Express accessed the FIR lodged on the complaint of a Pullman Hotel staffer on January 13. Senior police officers said the woman had been questioned and was “evasive”. “Earlier, she told us she was a lawyer but we think she runs a gift shop,” said an officer who refused to be named.

A senior police officer said, “She tried to show she was paying for the services… which later turned out to be fake UPI payment receipts. She showed transactions on a bank’s UPI mobile application. When hotel authorities contacted the bank, it was found that it never received any payment. During further verification, it was found that she used the hotel’s spa and fitness centre under a fake name and availed of services worth Rs 2.11 lakh. Her transactions were double-checked and it was found that the money was never received anywhere,” said a senior police officer.

In the FIR, the hotel staff alleged that when they approached the accused about the fraudulent bank transactions, she “hesitated” to present the actual bank statement. Later, she was found “escaping with her bags from the hotel lobby”.

“Upon stopping her (by lady security staff), she started manhandling us by scratching our hands, abusing and trying to leave the premises… police helpline number ‘112’ (was notified) and (it was) requested to intervene,” read the FIR.

An investigating officer in the case said police rushed to the hotel where they found the woman acting “aggressive” with hotel staffers and “trying to escape”.

Police said she was immediately taken to the police station at IGI Airport and questioned. A case of cheating was registered against her.

Talking about the questioning, an officer said, “She posed as a top lawyer at the hotel and stayed there for two weeks. She was bound down after hotel authorities called us. Since the sections are bailable, she is out on bail. We are now checking with Andhra Pradesh police and local authorities about her job, profile and criminal antecedents, if any…”
“The hotel staff was cheated for over two weeks as she kept presenting different UPI and bank transaction receipts. It took the staff some time to check the bills and confront her,” the officer added.

The Indian Express contacted the Pullman Hotel front desk and the complainant (hotel staffer) and a response was awaited.