CHENNAI: Three men posing as officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) were arrested for deceiving local fish vendors to obtain money under the guise of issuing vending licenses. The scam unraveled when G Loganathan, 49, a License Inspector with the Chennai Corporation, was on his routine inspection rounds at West Cooum Salai and noticed the trio attempting to scam another fish vendor.
Upon observing their suspicious behavior and subsequent inquiries, Loganathan learned the men displayed fake identity cards and had demanded ₹15,800 from the vendor for obtaining a fish stall license. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Loganathan immediately reported the encounter to the Chintadripet police.
Responding swiftly to the complaint, local police detained the trio, who were identified as S Paulraj alias Rohith, 30, of Royapuram, A Chandrasekar, 37, of Pudupet, and C Babu, 30, of Korukkupet. An investigation revealed they had created bogus identity cards mimicking legitimate GCC employees.
During the arrest, authorities confiscated the fraudulent identity cards along with one fake fish stall license. Following their arrest, the trio was produced before the magistrate court where they faced judicial custody.
This recent incident serves as a stark reminder of the rising fraud cases linked to impersonation of public officials. Just days later, another case of impersonation involving fake police officers emerged, where three suspects robbed ₹12,000 from a resident near Burma Bazaar. This incident also occurred on January 22, 2025, highlighting the alarming prevalence of such scams.
According to police reports, the victim, S Sethu, 25, from Thittakudi, was stopped by four men who falsely claimed to be police personnel. The suspects demanded to conduct checks for drugs, during which they forcibly snatched Sethu's bag containing the cash and insisted he collect it from the North Beach police station, providing him with receipts for carrying cash.
Following the incident, Sethu contacted the police and filed a complaint. A specialized team later apprehended three out of the four suspects, identified as G Parthasarathy, 36, M Syed Ibrahim, 51, and A Ramzan Ali, 38. Police managed to recover ₹7,500 from the accused. The judicial process is currently underway, and authorities continue to search for the fourth suspect who remains at large.
The increase of fraud cases have raised concerns among residents of Chennai. The impersonation of officials poses risks to both public safety and trust within the community. With scammers adopting ever more elaborate schemes to exploit unsuspecting victims, police authorities urge the public to maintain vigilance and report suspicious activities immediately.
Victims of scams, especially those involving impersonation, are advised to check the legitimacy of personnel requesting money for licenses or other necessities. Verifying identity through official channels can help mitigate the risk of falling victim to such deceptive practices.
“They presented themselves convincingly,” explained License Inspector Loganathan after the arrest. “It’s imperative for everyone to be aware and cautious of who they are engaging with, especially those claiming to represent authority.”
Authorities are committed to enhancing public education on recognizing scams and will ramp up patrols to deter similar incidents. The Chennai Police Department is collaborating with local businesses to promote awareness campaigns, ensuring vendors and residents alike can protect themselves from counterfeiters.
Chennai's law enforcement is placing significant emphasis on investigating these fraud schemes. Community members are encouraged to report any suspicious encounters or communications immediately to assist police efforts.
The recent arrests signal the determination of law enforcement to combat deception and uphold public trust. Citizens, too, have been called to play their part, reinforcing the message: “If it seems suspicious, it probably is.”