Fake booking payment link sent to guests of five-star hotel in Mumbai's BKC; FIR filed

According to the police, the accused sent messages containing a fraudulent payment link using the hotel’s name, asking guests to make payments to confirm their room reservations. Representational pic

Mumbai Police have registered a first information report (FIR) against an unknown fraudster after guests of a five-star hotel in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) received fake booking payment links, allegedly aimed at duping them.

According to the police, the accused sent messages containing a fraudulent payment link using the hotel's name, asking guests to make payments to confirm their room reservations. Around 20 guests alerted the hotel management after receiving the suspicious link, following which the hotel's chief security officer, Akshay Daine (47), approached the police and lodged a complaint.

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During the investigation, the BKC Police found that not only confirmed guests but also individuals who searched for the hotel on Google were being targeted with the fake payment link.

A police officer said, "On November 30, a hotel guest contacted the management and informed them that he had received a message regarding room reservations along with a link - https://reservationvalidate.com/8SSNQ2CK."

"After clicking on the link, a booking page opened asking for payment details. The guest then checked with the hotel to verify whether the link had been sent by them. The management clarified that the link was not issued by the hotel and advised the guest not to enter any personal or financial information," the officer added.

Subsequently, around 20 guests who had reserved rooms at the hotel contacted the management, stating that they too had received similar fake booking payment links demanding money.

Based on the complaint, the BKC Police on Monday registered a case against unknown persons under Section 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act.

Sub-inspector Umesh Nerlekar of BKC Police, who is investigating the case, told mid-day.com, "An FIR has been registered against an unknown fraudster for sending fake booking payment links to guests of a five-star hotel in BKC."

"We are tracing the accused and are taking the help of the cyber team," he added.

Police said the fraudster used WhatsApp accounts with profile names ‘Kokonuts' and ‘hotel manager' to circulate the fake payment links.