A shocking car rental scam has come to light in Indore, where fraudsters allegedly mortgaged Zoom Car rentals to obtain hefty bank loans. The scam involves forged documents, multiple vehicles, and unsuspecting financial institutions.
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In a startling revelation, authorities in Indore have uncovered a major scam involving the Zoom Car rental platform, where several rented vehicles were illegally mortgaged using forged documents to secure loans from banks and private financers.
According to police sources, the accused individuals booked multiple cars through Zoom Car, acquired them legally via short-term rental agreements, and then fraudulently posed as owners using fake registration and ownership papers. These counterfeit documents were then used to mortgage the cars to unsuspecting financial firms in exchange for sizable cash advances.
The scam came to light when one of the banks attempted to repossess a vehicle after the borrower defaulted, only to discover that the car was not owned by the loanee—but was in fact registered under Zoom Car’s fleet.
How the Scam Worked:
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Car Booked: Cars were booked through Zoom Car using valid IDs.
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Fake Papers Created: Ownership documents were forged, including RCs (Registration Certificates) and insurance papers.
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Loan Secured: Cars were mortgaged at NBFCs and small banks.
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Cars Vanished: Once money was received, the accused either vanished or defaulted.
Multiple banks and finance companies are believed to have been duped in this manner, with dozens of cars involved. Preliminary estimates suggest a fraud value exceeding ₹1.2 crore, though the number may rise as the investigation progresses.
Zoom Car’s Response:
Zoom Car officials confirmed that an internal audit flagged irregularities in fleet tracking, leading to the discovery. The company is cooperating with law enforcement and pursuing legal action.
“This is a case of criminal misuse of our vehicles and platform. We are committed to assisting the police fully,” a company spokesperson said.
Police Investigation Update:
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Two arrests have been made so far
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Several suspects are on the run
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FIRs have been filed under sections of fraud, forgery, and criminal conspiracy
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A special task team is tracing GPS histories and document trails
The case has raised serious concerns about document verification and digital rental security protocols, particularly in a growing gig economy where digital rentals are rising rapidly.
Key Highlights (Bullet Points):
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Rented Zoom Cars mortgaged using fake papers
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Over ₹1.2 crore involved across multiple loans
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Banks duped by false RC and insurance documents
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Two suspects arrested, more under investigation
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Zoom Car cooperating with authorities
