BTech graduate poses as interior designer, cheats clients from Noida of Rs 94L

Noida:A 35-year-old BTech graduate was arrested for allegedly defrauding people by posing as an interior designer and cheating them of large sums of money on Monday. He is part of a five-member gang that operated behind a facade of an interior design firm, police said. The accused, identified as Guddu Alam, a native of Bihar currently residing in Chipyana Khurd in Bisrakh, was arrested by Sector 63 police. Six computer systems and a mobile phone were recovered from his possession. According to central Noida additional deputy commissioner of police Santosh Kumar, Alam and his associates posed as interior designers under the banner of a company named i Home Master Private Limited. The gang allegedly entered into contracts with around 20 clients for interior work but failed to execute the projects. When clients demanded refunds, they were allegedly abused and threatened with dire consequences. In one case, the accused took Rs 10 lakh for interior work at a flat in Greater Noida but did not begin the work. When the customer sought a refund, the accused allegedly resorted to threats and intimidation, following which a complaint was registered. During interrogation, Alam claimed to be the director of the company. Police said he would take 50–60% of the total project cost as advance from clients. He would then deploy labourers to vandalise the property and deliberately delay work. During this period, he would look for new clients, collect advances from them and abandon earlier projects to prevent customers from approaching other interior designers. Police further said that the accused used social media promotions and completed limited work initially to gain customers' trust. He later attracted more clients through phone assurances. The money collected was allegedly spent on personal hobbies. So far, police have found that Alam embezzled a total of Rs 94 lakh through the company.