PANAJI: In a significant achievement, North Goa Police has uncovered a multi-crore scam operated by individuals posing as hotel operators, who duped unsuspecting tourists by exploiting loopholes on renowned booking platforms such as Booking.com. This fraudulent operation, active since 2022, deceived tourists by listing non-existent properties for rent and collecting advance payments through multiple bank accounts.
Goa Police had recently received several complaints regarding online fraud targeting tourists. Victims reported being duped by fake villa listings on platforms such as Booking.com, where they were asked to pay advances for non-existent properties. Initial investigations have revealed that over 500 individuals have fallen prey to this scam. Efforts are underway to contact the victims and formally record their complaints.
Speaking to media, North Goa Akshat SP Kaushal said the scam came to light following a complaint by Pankaj Dhiman, a resident of Chandigarh, who was defrauded of Rs 20,000 while attempting to book a property named Ruby Villa, Goa on Booking.com. Upon arriving at the location, he discovered that the villa did not exist. Following this complaint, an FIR U/s 318 (4) of BNS, 2023, was registered at Anjuna PS.
Following a thorough investigation, four individuals—three from Hyderabad and one from Jaipur—have been arrested. The arrested include Saurabh Duseja, 37-yr-old from Lakshar-Gwalior, Sayed Ali Mukhtar from Tolichowki, Hyderabad, Mohd Firoz from Himayat Nagar, Hyderabad and Mohd Azharuddin Saif from Asif Nagar, Hyderabad. During interrogation, the accused confessed to orchestrating the scam and revealed their modus operandi. Operating from a rented room in Hyderabad, they would field calls from potential victims and use female telephone operators to build trust.
The perpetrators exploited vulnerabilities in booking platforms to create fraudulent listings for non-existent properties. They then collected advance payments through digital payment systems linked to multiple bank accounts.