In a major breakthrough, Goa police have arrested four individuals involved in an online accommodation booking scam that duped over 500 tourists for crores of rupees. The accused have been identified as 37-year-old Saurav from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and Sayyad Ali Mukhtar, Mohammad Firoz, and Mohammad Azharuddin Saif from Hyderabad.
The fraudulent operation, which has been active since 2022, exploited loopholes on renowned online hotel booking platforms. The accused listed non-existent properties for rent, luring tourists with cheap deals and collecting advance payments using 15 different bank accounts. The scam was uncovered when a tourist from Chandigarh, Pankaj Dhiman, filed a complaint. Dhiman had booked a property named ‘Ruby Villa’ through booking.com and paid an advance of Rs. 20,000. However, when he arrived in Goa, he could not find the property and realized he had been scammed.
SP North Akshat Kaushal confirmed that the police traced the four accused to an office in Hyderabad. Three of the accused were arrested in Hyderabad, while the fourth suspect was nabbed in Jaipur. Interestingly, one of the accused runs a hotel on lease in Goa, and the father of another runs a photo studio in Calangute.
The scam is believed to have deceived many tourists, leading to significant financial losses. The Goa police are continuing their investigation into the matter.
