In a startling case of vehicle mortgage fraud, Ambernath Police have uncovered a scheme where Allauddin Sheikh betrayed multiple car owners’ trust by mortgaging their rental vehicles without their knowledge. The scam involved Sheikh renting cars, gaining the confidence of owners, and later deceiving them with false pretenses to secure money through illicit means.
The scam came to light after Faizal Afsar Khan, a car owner from Ambernath, came forward with a complaint. Khan had rented his Kia car to Sheikh several times before the fraudster approached him, claiming that his son was gravely ill and urgently needed the vehicle for medical reasons. Trusting Sheikh, Khan handed over the car, unaware that the fraudster had already mortgaged the vehicle at an unknown location and pocketed the money.
Upon further investigation, the Ambernath Police discovered that Khan was not the only victim of Sheikh’s deception. The accused had used the same fraudulent tactic on seven to eight different vehicles in the past, mortgaging and selling them without the owners’ consent. It was revealed that Sheikh had sold or mortgaged at least four to five cars under similar false pretenses.
Senior Police Inspector Balaji Pandhare of the Ambernath Police Station confirmed that this was part of a larger criminal operation, and more victims could emerge as investigations continue. The police are working to track down all the stolen vehicles and identify any additional crimes linked to Sheikh.
Sheikh’s modus operandi was based on trust. By renting vehicles from unsuspecting car owners, he established a relationship of familiarity. Then, using emotional manipulation, such as fabricating a family emergency , he convinced the owners to release their vehicles. Once in possession, Sheikh would mortgage the cars without informing the owners and take the money, leaving them in the dark about the fraudulent transaction.
