Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Feb 23: In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, Goa police arrested a 25-year-old man from Madhya Pradesh for allegedly operating a nationwide fake hotel website racket. The accused, Lalit Khare, was apprehended in Morena, MP, for duping customers by creating fraudulent websites of reputed hotels.

The case came to light after the general manager of a beach resort in Salcete lodged a complaint about a fake website using the resort’s name to scam unsuspecting tourists. Investigations led the cybercrime unit to Khare, who had created multiple fake hotel websites across Goa, Odisha, and Meghalaya.

Further interrogation revealed the involvement of another suspect, Firoz Ahmad from Guna, MP, who allegedly funded the website operations. Ahmad’s questioning led investigators to Mewat, Rajasthan, where further probe is underway.

Explaining the modus operandi, Cyber Crime SP Rahul Gupta stated that fraudsters created fake hotel websites, linked them to Google listings, and engaged with victims via WhatsApp, impersonating hotel staff. They then convinced victims to transfer money into fraudulent accounts under the pretense of hotel bookings.

Authorities have urged the public to verify hotel websites before making payments and to report suspicious transactions to local police or cybercrime officials.