◊ By Pure & Eco India

Note: To find details of organic ingredient suppliers in India, buy the Organic Directory

A reputed organic food company from India was cheated in the month of August of nearly Rs 38 lac (approx. USD 51,607) by an entity claiming to be a ‘US-based firm’ on the pretext of procuring raw material for development of Covid-19 medication.

As per a report published in the Hindustan Times in August 2020, the ‘US firm’ claimed that it worked for WHO and the Red Cross. One of the fraudulent correspondents claimed to be a WHO official stationed in Delhi. They commenced discussion with the said organic company for the import of raw materials.

The suspects then asked the company to purchase a certain organic oil from another company and supply it to them. The complainant paid Rs 27.99 lac (approx. USD 38,057) to the other Indian company.

The culprits first requested a sample of 1 litre of the oil with the promise of then purchasing 100 litres of the same.

They demanded an additional Rs 10 lac (approx. USD 13,591) from the organic company, which was paid up. A few days later, they demanded an additional Rs 17 lac (approx. USD 23,106).

At this time, the payment instruction on the fraudulent company’s letterhead showed a figure different from what had been agreed on.

The letterhead also claimed that the organic company had received payment, which was untrue.

Following the incident, a case has been registered under sections 420 and 406 of the Indian Penal Code and section 66 of the IT Act.

As per officials, despite the phone numbers seeming American, they could be local numbers being re-routed through a fake call centre.

The bank account has been traced to Maharashtra.

Pure & Eco India contacted the General Manager at the organic food company and learned the matter is still under investigation.

“Our intentions were fair. And with the same fair intentions we will earn more money back,” said the GM, declining to comment further.