Policing fraud with holograms
2 08 2007Monday, January 10, 2000
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
When Mumbai-based hologram manufacturers Ojasmit Holographics were approached by a private entrepreneur to develop and supply Indian Oil Corporation Ltd’s (IOC) holograms which he claimed he planned to affix on all IOC termination voucher of gas cylinders as a means of authentication, Ojasmit suspected the genuineness of the order.
The HoMAI member promptly met IOC officials and found that the entrepreneur was never authorised to issue holograms on IOC’s behalf. The HoMAI member’s alertness thus averted a major fraud in the gas cylinders’ unauthorised terminations in Mumbai.
In another case HoMAI member Alpha Lasertek (I) Ltd in New Delhi were approached by a person (name withheld) from Nigeria who claimed to be the biggest importer of auto spares from Europe and Asia. He wanted to make holograms for FAG Bearings since his `German hologram manufacturer had closed down’. The HoMAI member decided to first refer to the holograms database — and it was no surprise that the Nigerian client failed to make contact thereafter.
