The Cyber Police Station at BKC has arrested Kaplesh Sevak (35) and Amol Patel (29) for creating a fake website mimicking the official site of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The duo allegedly defrauded the public by collecting money under the guise of registration for the MHADA housing lottery scheme.
According to the police, the fraudulent website was operational for over a month before being taken down following a complaint by MHADA officials. The scam involved the suspects tricking citizens into paying an upfront fee for the housing lottery, which does not exist. Authorities believe many citizens may have fallen victim to the scam.
The police have traced the fraudulent transactions to 6-7 bank accounts, which are now being frozen to prevent further misuse. Sevak is believed to have created the phishing website, while Patel impersonated an MHADA officer to convince victims to transfer funds. Both men have a history of criminal activity and are reportedly involved in several similar scams across the city.
The Cyber Police arrested Sevak from Mahim and Patel from Nallasopara on the night of August 17. Following their arrests, the fake website was shut down, and the police are now working to identify all the victims of the scam. Investigators suspect that the total amount defrauded may be higher than initially reported.
In addition to their recent arrest, Sevak was previously booked in 2016 by the Bhoiwada Police for allegedly issuing a fake job recruitment letter for a position at Mantralaya.
Both suspects have been charged under Section 319 (cheating by personation), Section 336 (forgery), and other relevant sections of the BNS and IT Act. The investigation is ongoing, with efforts to identify additional victims and further expand the scope of the case.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber), Datta Nalawade, advised citizens to be cautious of phishing websites and always verify the authenticity of websites before making any online payments. In case of any cyber fraud, citizens are encouraged to contact the Cyber Helpline Number 1930 for immediate assistance.
This case serves as a stark reminder to be vigilant against online scams, especially those disguised as government services or lottery schemes.
