Mumbai Airport Police have issued a warning after a fraud case came to light outside the domestic terminal of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
According to reports, a man was targeting passengers by pretending to be a student from an engineering college in Nagpur. He approached travelers with an emotional story, saying he had lost his flight ticket and urgently needed money to travel. To make his story believable, he even showed what looked like a valid college ID.
One victim, a 31-year-old sales manager from Pune, was approached soon after landing in Mumbai. Trusting the story, he transferred around Rs. 16,000 through UPI by scanning a QR code given by the accused. The man also shared a phone number, but it later turned out to be fake and untraceable.
After the complaint, police registered an FIR on April 18 against the unknown person. Investigators believe at least three to four passengers may have been cheated using the same method. They are now checking bank transaction details and going through CCTV footage from the airport to identify the suspect.
This incident shows a growing trend. Fraudsters are now using emotional stories and fake but convincing documents to gain quick trust, especially in busy places like airports where people are often in a hurry.
Police have advised passengers to stay alert and avoid sending money to strangers, no matter how genuine their situation may seem. If someone approaches with such a request, it is safer to direct them to airport authorities instead of handling it personally.
In simple terms, even in places that feel safe and secure, scams can still happen. A little caution can prevent a big loss.
