In a major breakthrough, Goa Police on Monday busted a multi-crore hotel booking scam and arrested four individuals who allegedly duped more than 500 tourists through fake property listings on online travel platforms like Booking.com.
According to North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal, the accused posed as hotel operators, listing non-existent villas and collecting advance payments through multiple bank accounts. The scam has been running since 2022, targeting unsuspecting visitors by luring them with attractive photos and low prices.
The scam came to light after Pankaj Dhiman, a tourist from Chandigarh, attempted to book a villa named Ruby Villa, Goa on Booking.com. Upon arrival, he discovered that the property did not exist. He filed a complaint at Anjuna Police Station, prompting a detailed investigation.
Following surveillance and digital tracking, police arrested:
Saurabh (37), son of Ratan Lal Duseja, resident of Gwalior
Sayed Ali Mukhtar, Mohd Firoz, and Mohd Azharuddin Saif – all residents of Hyderabad
The group operated from a rented room in Hyderabad, using female voice callers to build trust with tourists. The scammers bypassed the platform’s official payment systems, instead collecting Rs10,000–Rs20,000 as advance through digital payments into 15 different bank accounts, now mostly seized.
SP Kaushal explained that unverified listings on booking sites allowed fraudsters to display contact numbers. Once tourists reached out, the scammers pressured them to pay quickly, claiming high demand.
The accused reportedly understood tourist behavior well and exploited it effectively. Investigations also revealed that they frequently visited Goa, with some family members already residing or doing business in the state.
