Kochi: Employees of a textile shop have allegedly defrauded the business by using their own QR code on the shop’s card-swiping machine. Acting on a complaint by Abdul Wahab, owner of Garment Nation at Palarivattom, the Palarivattom police have booked a case against two persons, including the shop’s manager.

According to police, the accused diverted payments made by customers into their own accounts by capturing an image of their personal QR code using the card-swiping machine’s camera and instructing customers to scan that code while making UPI payments.

Police have launched a search for Jerry Johnson and Thanush, employees of the shop, in connection with the case. The alleged fraud took place between February 15 and May 7.

The scam came to light when a customer who had purchased clothes from the store informed the shop owner that payment had been made. Upon verification, however, the amount was not credited to the shop’s account. Following this, the shop owner lodged a police complaint.