Mumbai Police Arrest 36-Year-Old Serial Fraudster for Loan Scam Using Mobile Purchase Trick

The Dharavi Police in Mumbai have arrested a 36-year-old man, Sonu Baba Peer Mohammad, for allegedly duping multiple individuals by promising easy loans through fraudulent mobile purchases. The accused has over 15 cases registered against him at police stations including Sion, Dongri, and Dharavi.

According to the police, Sonu Baba, a resident of Airoli in Navi Mumbai, was running a scam by luring people with offers of low-interest loans. One such case involved a 30-year-old woman from Sion who needed a loan of Rs. 80,000. The accused convinced her that she could easily get a loan of up to ₹1.5 lakh using her husband’s documents.

He asked the couple to meet him at a mobile store in Dharavi, claiming that he would use the documents to buy a mobile phone on EMI, sell it to a third party, and give them the cash proceeds from the sale. Falling for the promise, the woman handed over her husband’s documents.

Using the documents, Sonu Baba purchased an iPhone 15. He then asked the woman to unbox the phone while he recorded a video of the process. Immediately after, he took the phone and the box, handed them over to another individual, and told the woman that the phone would be sold and the money sent to her shortly. However, she never received the loan amount or the mobile phone.

Following her complaint, police began an investigation and discovered that the accused had used a similar modus operandi to cheat several other victims across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Sonu Baba has now been arrested and further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the fraud.

The Dharavi Police have urged anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Sonu Baba’s scam to come forward and file a complaint. The police are also working to identify and locate other potential victims and to gather more evidence to strengthen the case against the accused.

This case highlights the increasing prevalence of loan scams in the region and underscores the importance of being cautious when dealing with unfamiliar individuals who offer attractive loan terms. The police have advised the public to verify the credentials and background of anyone offering loans and to avoid providing personal documents without thorough due diligence.