PANAJI
The Goa Crime Branch team has arrested a youth for allegedly creating fake hotel websites and defrauding customers by impersonating legitimate resorts in Goa. The accused identified as Lalit Khare, aged 25 years and hailing from Morena in Madhya Pradesh was arrested from his native place. His arrest comes after a complaint from a South Goa resort representative.
Details shared by Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch/Cyber Crime Cell) Rahul Gupta reveal that the General Manager of a beach resort in Salcete alleged that a fake website using the resort’s brand name and logo was created by unknown person/s to deceive customers into making payments into fraudulent bank accounts.
A case was registered by the Cyber Crime Police under Sections 318(4) (cheating by deceiving someone to deliver property) and 319(2) (impersonation) read with 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS and Sections 66-C and 66-D of the IT Act.
Gupta stated that during interrogation, Khare confessed to creating at least seven more fake hotel websites including four in Goa, two in Odisha and one in Meghalaya.
“Further investigation led to the identification of Firoz Ahmad, also from MP, who allegedly financed the creation of these fraudulent websites. Ahmad was served notice for interrogation and further investigation is underway, including links to Mewat, Rajasthan,” the officer added. The police have seized one laptop and one mobile phone from Khare.
Explaining the accused persons’ modus operandi, the SP said that the impersonators created fake websites using the names and images of legitimate hotels and linked them to Google listings. When customers searched for hotels online, they were redirected to these fraudulent websites. A WhatsApp number listed on the fake sites was used to communicate with victims, impersonating hotel staff and persuading them to transfer money to the fraudsters’ bank accounts.
The police have advised people to be cautious while booking hotels online and check if multiple websites exist for a particular hotel. “Before transferring money, it is always advised to cross-check with the person asking to transfer the money and a/c holder name and to immediately approach the local police station or Cyber Crime PS, Ribandar,” reads the advisory by the Crime Branch.
