Mumbai Man Loses ₹1.07 Crore in Cyber Fraud Over Affordable Flat Scam; One Arrested
A 43-year-old man from Mumbai’s Dadar area was duped of Rs 1.07 crore by cybercriminals who promised him a cheap flat in the city. The Mumbai Cyber Cell arrested one accused, identified as Sanyam Devmani Pandey, from Badlapur East in Thane district.
Cyber FraudReal EstateMumbaiFraudCyber CrimeReal Estate MumbaiJun 17, 2025
According to the Cyber Cell's initial investigation, the accused defrauded the victim by carrying out 215 separate transactions under various pretexts between November 2018 and November 2024.
The victim, Shekhar Himmat Patil, was planning to buy a 2BHK flat in Mumbai. While scrolling through Facebook, he came across an advertisement on a page titled 'Apna Ghar Apne City Mai', claiming to offer budget flats in Mumbai. He contacted the email ID mentioned in the ad — [email protected] — to inquire further.
The accused convinced Patil that he could help him secure a flat at a low price and sent a link to a form requesting personal details. A few days later, the accused demanded Rs 50,000 as registration fees, which Patil paid.
Over the next few years, the accused continued to demand money for various 'clearances' — including MHADA clearance, BMC NOC, and other fictitious formalities — eventually extracting a total of ₹1.07 crore from the victim, without delivering any property.
After realizing he had been duped, Patil approached the Cyber Cell, which registered an FIR on June 3, 2025. Investigators traced the email communication, analyzed the IP logs, scrutinized the Facebook page, and examined linked bank accounts. This led them to Sanyam Devmani Pandey, a resident of Badlapur East, who was subsequently arrested.
Further probe revealed that Pandey had created the fake Facebook page specifically to scam people under the guise of offering cheap real estate. The investigation is ongoing, and police suspect there may be more victims connected to the same scam.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to the victim in this case?
The victim, Shekhar Himmat Patil, was duped of Rs 1.07 crore by cybercriminals who promised him a cheap flat in Mumbai. The fraud took place over several years through 215 separate transactions.
Who was arrested in this case?
Sanyam Devmani Pandey (36) from Badlapur East in Thane district was arrested by the Mumbai Cyber Cell for the cyber fraud.
How did the victim initially contact the fraudster?
The victim came across an advertisement on a Facebook page titled 'Apna Ghar Apne City Mai' and contacted the email ID mentioned in the ad.
What pretexts did the fraudster use to extract money from the victim?
The fraudster demanded money for various 'clearances' such as MHADA clearance, BMC NOC, and other fictitious formalities.
What actions did the Cyber Cell take to catch the fraudster?
The Cyber Cell traced the email communication, analyzed IP logs, scrutinized the Facebook page, and examined linked bank accounts to identify and arrest the fraudster, Sanyam Devmani Pandey.
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