According to a Maharashtra Times report, the group booked a villa in Lonavala through an Instagram account named @stayzuly, which appeared genuine with over 82,000 followers, realistic photos, and working contact numbers.
Initially, the group transferred ₹3,000 as an advance and later paid an additional ₹18,000. The total cost of the villa booking was ₹36,000.
However, upon reaching Lonavala, the group found that no such booking existed. Their calls to the provided contact number went unanswered and were eventually disconnected. Later, they received a message claiming the booking had been canceled due to a family emergency and were asked to share their bank details for a refund—an apparent attempt to continue the scam.
One of the victims visited the villa address and met the real owner, who confirmed he had no connection with any Instagram-based bookings and revealed that others had been similarly cheated.
Cyber police have taken note of the incident and warned the public to be cautious while booking accommodations online, especially through social media platforms.
Tips from Cyber Police to Avoid Online Booking Scams:
• Book only through verified websites and official apps.
• Check reviews, property location, and ownership details.
• Avoid transferring money through social media without proper verification.
• Keep records and screenshots of all transactions.
Authorities also noted that such scams are common in popular destinations like Lonavala, Pawna, Mulshi, Khandala, Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, Satara, and Bhore-Ki Velhe. Youth groups, particularly from IT companies, are often the main targets during weekend holidays.
“We booked the resort after seeing impressive reels on Instagram. But when we arrived, we realized we had been cheated. We lost our money and had to go through emotional distress,” said Ranjay Sarkar, one of the complainants.
The cyber police are investigating the case and have urged citizens to report suspicious social media accounts related to bookings.
Tags:
Cybercrime in India
