In a significant breakthrough against cybercrime targeting wildlife enthusiasts, the Mendarda police in Junagadh district has apprehended a 23-year-old school dropout from Rajasthan for operating an elaborate fake online booking system for accommodations and government safaris at Gir National Park.
The Elaborate Cyberfraud Operation
The accused, identified as Rashid Khan Ayub Khan, allegedly deceived numerous visitors from across India and international tourists by posing as an authorized booking agent for the famous lion sanctuary. The case originally came to light in November when the range forest officer (RFO) filed a formal complaint at the Mendarda police station, leading to charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
According to the initial complaint, unsuspecting visitors attempting to book rooms at Sinh Sadan or secure official lion safari permits were systematically redirected to a fraudulent website meticulously created by the accused. The website perfectly mimicked legitimate booking platforms, making it difficult for tourists to distinguish between real and fake services.
Technical Investigation and Digital Trail
Junagadh superintendent of police Subodh Odedra revealed that a specialized technical surveillance team successfully tracked the digital footprint of the fake portal to Deeg in Rajasthan. Investigators employed sophisticated monitoring techniques to follow digital activity patterns, phone number usage, and financial transactions, eventually pinpointing Rashid Khan's exact location.
Preliminary investigations uncovered that the accused employed WhatsApp calling as his primary communication method to avoid detection and maintain anonymity. He utilized a bank account that already had 20 separate cyberfraud complaints registered against it, indicating a pattern of criminal behavior.
The victims spanned multiple Indian states including Vadodara, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Delhi, Telangana, Haryana, and several other regions, highlighting the nationwide impact of his operations.
Wider Network of Fraudulent Websites
Police investigations revealed that the fake Sinh Sadan booking website was just one component of a larger cybercrime operation. Rashid Khan had created multiple fraudulent websites impersonating official pages of the Jagannath Temple in Odisha, Shri Ram Ashram in Delhi, and several other religious ashrams and hotels across the country.
All these platforms shared the same criminal objective: to collect payments through fake booking links while providing no actual services. The sophisticated nature of these websites demonstrated significant technical capability despite the accused's formal educational background.
Police inspector P C Sarvaiya of Mendarda police station provided intriguing insights into the accused's background. Despite being a school dropout, Rashid Khan had acquired substantial technical expertise through self-learning and even operated a small institute named TECHDO in his hometown, where he trained others in web designing and coding.
According to Inspector Sarvaiya, the accused employed a multi-pronged approach using forged websites, bogus WhatsApp numbers, and online rented bank accounts to issue fake booking receipts. Investigators also discovered that he strategically exploited the terrain of his rural locality to conceal his illegal activities from authorities.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Implications
Rashid Khan has been sent to police remand for five days to facilitate further interrogation and evidence collection. Law enforcement officers are currently examining three bank accounts that were reportedly rented specifically for this criminal operation and have sought detailed financial statements to trace the money trail.
The Junagadh police suspect this case might be connected to a broader cybercrime syndicate targeting both religious and wildlife tourism platforms across India. The investigation continues to uncover additional victims and potentially linked fraudulent activities as digital forensic analysis progresses.
This case highlights the growing sophistication of cybercriminals targeting India's tourism sector and underscores the importance of verifying booking platforms through official channels before making online payments for wildlife safaris or religious pilgrimage accommodations.
