The Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) of Mauritius has launched an investigation into a suspected fraud scheme involving two men, Mohammad Yashin Hossain, 39, and Shaheel Beesoоn, 22. They were arrested on September 24 and appeared in court on September 25, after which they were released on bail. The duo is accused of obtaining goods worth Rs 2,778,350 from an aluminum products company in the East of the island without making the payment.
According to the FCC, the alleged scheme involved creating a fake payment receipt using an application available on Play Store. Shaheel Beesoоn is suspected to have used this app to generate a false receipt, which was then sent to Mohammad Yashin Hossain via WhatsApp. Hossain allegedly presented this receipt to the seller as proof of payment, leading the seller to hand over the goods.
The goods in question include aluminum equipment and windows. The seller only realized later that the payment had not been made. The FCC is now working to establish the exact circumstances under which the goods were handed over without payment. The investigation also seeks to determine the roles of the two suspects and trace the path of the goods.
Mohammad Yashin Hossain, residing in Bel-Air, is suspected to have been in possession of the goods from July 2023 to April 2024, during which time he may have had reason to suspect their illicit origin. Shaheel Beesoоn, from Olivia, is accused of collaborating with Hossain to facilitate the receipt of the goods. Both men face charges related to money laundering.
The FCC advises businesses not to rely solely on screenshots or receipts as proof of payment. Instead, transactions should only be considered final after verifying that the funds have been credited to the beneficiary's account. This case highlights the risks of digital payment fraud and the importance of verification.
The two suspects have been released on bail while the FCC continues its investigation. The commission is working to uncover the full extent of the fraud and to bring those responsible to justice. The case has raised concerns about the security of digital transactions and the need for vigilance in verifying payments.
The FCC's recommendation to businesses comes as a reminder of the potential risks associated with digital payments. By emphasizing the need for verification, the commission aims to prevent similar frauds in the future. The investigation into this case is ongoing.
Key points
- Two men arrested for allegedly using fake Juice receipts to obtain goods worth Rs 2.78 million.
- The suspects, Mohammad Yashin Hossain and Shaheel Beesoоn, were released on bail pending further investigation.
- The FCC advises businesses to verify payments before considering transactions final.
