In a distressing incident, a young resident of Pune fell victim to a fraudulent scheme and lost Rs 40,000 after responding to an advertisement for a villa on Instagram. The alleged perpetrator, identified as Akash Jadhwani from Mumbai, had previous run-ins with the law in similar cases.
Jadhwani executed his scam by creating an Instagram page under the name “Marvelous Stays” and used it to showcase alluring villa advertisements. Additionally, he established a website, www.vistarastays.com, which he promoted through his Instagram page.
Ashish Saxena, a resident of Keshavnagar, stumbled upon one of these villa advertisements on Instagram and initiated contact with Jadhwani via WhatsApp. On August 20, Saxena made a payment of Rs 40,000 as a booking deposit.
However, to Saxena’s dismay, he received no confirmation regarding his booking. Frustrated and sensing foul play, Saxena decided to file a formal complaint with the Mundhwa police station.
Subsequently, Saxena uncovered Jadhwani’s criminal history. The Mumbai Police had previously arrested Jadhwani for perpetrating scams involving fictitious bookings.
Jadhwani, considered a history-sheeter, has faced arrest on three occasions in connection with cyber fraud cases. Regrettably, he repeatedly secures his release on bail and continues his fraudulent activities.
Law enforcement agencies are urging the public to exercise vigilance when booking accommodations online, especially through social media platforms. It is essential to verify the legitimacy of websites or Instagram pages before making any payments.
