`Bunty-Babli` style scam: Duo held in Goa for duping sellers on resale platform

In a joint operation, the Nirmal Nagar Police in Mumbai arrested two individuals from Goa who allegedly cheated multiple people from Mumbai and Goa through a resale website. The accused would pose as buyers and sellers, lure victims to rented apartments, and then escape with their mobile phones and laptops.

The accused, identified as Azan Jethva and Nidha Shaikh—both residents of Mumbai—have been linked to multiple such frauds. Police said the duo formed a ‘Bunty and Babli-style gang’, targeting victims selling expensive gadgets on the resale platform.

As part of their modus operandi, the accused would rent a one-day apartment, invite the seller claiming it was their own home, then lock the victim inside and flee with the items they had agreed to buy.

According to police officers, the most recent incident occurred on June 23 when the accused rented a one-room kitchen flat in Khar (East). After browsing the website, they contacted a seller and expressed interest in purchasing an iPhone and laptop.

A police officer said, “The complainant arrived at the flat after the accused shared the location. The accused took the mobile phone and laptop from the complainant and asked him to wait while they went to withdraw cash from an ATM. They then locked the complainant inside and escaped.”

“The complainant called the police and also alerted a neighbour through the window. The neighbour opened the door, following which the complainant approached the police, where a first information report (FIR) was registered,” the officer added.

During the investigation, the Nirmal Nagar Police found the same iPhone being listed for sale on the website from a location in Goa. A police team posed as buyers contacted the accused, who invited them to a hotel in Panaji for the transaction.

A trap was laid by Mumbai Police along with assistance from their counterparts in Panaji. Acting under the guidance of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 8) and the Senior Inspector of Nirmal Nagar Police Station, the team apprehended the accused red-handed while attempting to sell the stolen phone.

The police recovered the stolen mobile phone and laptop from the duo.

Further investigation is underway to identify other victims and uncover the full extent of their fraud network.

Source