Mumbai Police Nab Two for Duping Via Fake MHADA Housing Scheme Website

Mumbai Police's Cyber Crime unit has apprehended two individuals for allegedly creating a counterfeit website mimicking the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (MHADA) portal. They deceived people by promising flats under a government housing scheme, an official revealed on Sunday.

One of the suspects, Kalpesh Sevak, was responsible for developing the fraudulent website. His partner, Amol Patel, allegedly impersonated a MHADA officer to trick victims into paying Rs 30 lakh for non-existent flats, according to the official. Sevak was arrested in Mahim, Mumbai, while Patel was caught in Nalasopara, Palghar district.

Fake Website and Arrests

The fake website, mhada.org, was crafted to mislead users into making payments through an online link. The genuine MHADA site is http://mhada.gov.in. MHADA is a statutory housing authority and a nodal agency of the Maharashtra government that provides affordable housing in the state.

MHADA recently reported the scam to the police, which led to the arrests and the filing of an FIR under relevant sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The accused contacted flat aspirants after obtaining their details from the fake website.

Modus Operandi

The suspects informed applicants that a flat was available for sale in Goregaon for Rs 30 lakh. They then directed them to make payments via an online link provided on the dummy website. This method allowed them to collect substantial amounts of money from unsuspecting victims.

"The accused used to contact aspirants looking for flats under the MHADA housing scheme after securing their details from the duplicate website," said the official. "They used to tell the applicants that a flat is available for sale in Goregaon area for Rs 30 lakh and asked them to pay via the online link provided on the dummy website," he added.

The arrests highlight the importance of verifying information through official channels before making any payments. Authorities urge citizens to be cautious and report any suspicious activities related to government schemes.

This incident underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures and public awareness to prevent such scams in the future. The police continue their investigation to uncover more details about this fraudulent operation.