In a major breakthrough, North Goa Police have exposed a multi-crore scam involving fraudulent online villa listings on popular platforms like Booking.com. The operation, active since 2022, targeted over 500 unsuspecting tourists, tricking them into paying advances for non-existent properties.
The scam came to light after a Chandigarh resident, Mr. Pankaj Dhiman, lodged a complaint upon being defrauded of ₹20,000 while booking a property named Ruby Villa on Booking.com. Upon arrival, he found the villa didn’t exist. An FIR was registered under Section 318(4) of the BNS Act, 2023, at Anjuna Police Station, leading to the unearthing of the elaborate fraud.
Modus Operandi and Arrests
The scammers, operating from a rented room in Hyderabad, exploited loopholes in booking platforms to create fake listings. They used female operators to field calls and gain victims’ trust, collecting payments through digital platforms linked to multiple bank accounts.
Following an extensive investigation, four individuals were arrested:
1. Saurabh Duseja (37) – Resident of Gwalior.
2. Sayed Ali Mukhtar – Resident of Hyderabad.
3. Mohd. Firoz – Resident of Hyderabad.
4. Mohd. Azharuddin Saif – Resident of Hyderabad.
During interrogation, the accused confessed to orchestrating the scam.
Investigative Team
The operation was led by:
• Mayank Dubey (IPS)
• Arun Balgotra (IPS)
• PI Suraj Gawas (Anjuna PS)
• PSI Sahil Warang (Anjuna PS)
• PSI Ramesh Harijan (Anjuna PS)
• PSI Sai (Anjuna PS)
• PC Raj Parab (Calangute PS)
• PC Vidya (Calangute PS)
Efforts are ongoing to contact victims and formally record complaints. The police have urged tourists to verify property listings thoroughly before making payments to avoid falling prey to similar scams.
