Mumbai Police Issue Alert Over Airport Conman Posing as Student
Mumbai Police have issued a stern warning to all air travelers following a series of sophisticated scams at the city's domestic airport. Authorities are actively investigating a fraudulent individual who has been systematically deceiving passengers by masquerading as a distressed student from the prestigious VNIT College in Nagpur.
The Elusive Conman's Modus Operandi
The perpetrator operates with calculated precision, approaching travelers outside the arrival gates of Mumbai Domestic Airport. Presenting himself as a panicked student named Nilaboyina Srigiridhara Aditya, he displays what appears to be a legitimate college identification card while spinning a convincing tale of woe.
His standard narrative involves claiming to have lost his flight ticket and urgently needing financial assistance to purchase a new one to either return to his educational institution in Nagpur or travel to another destination like Hyderabad. The emotional appeal is carefully crafted to exploit the goodwill of sympathetic travelers.
Recent Victim Details His Ordeal
The latest confirmed victim is Akshay Gawade, a 31-year-old sales manager from Pune who fell prey to the scam on March 21. Having just arrived from Kolkata on an official business trip, Gawade was approached outside the arrival gate at approximately 12:30 PM.
"The young man seemed genuinely distressed and worried," Gawade recounted in his formal complaint. "He showed me what looked like an authentic VNIT College ID card, and I even photographed it with my mobile device for verification. He explained that his ticket to Hyderabad was lost and he needed immediate financial help to travel urgently."
The conman's plea was particularly persuasive, repeatedly saying "Please help me" and promising to repay the borrowed amount promptly. This emotional manipulation proved effective, as Gawade transferred Rs 16,000 via Google Pay after scanning a QR code presented by the fraudster.
Unraveling the Deception
The truth began to emerge when Gawade attempted to follow up about repayment two days later. After initial evasive responses, the conman completely blocked Gawade's number, raising serious suspicions.
Gawade's investigation revealed several alarming discrepancies:
- The UPI ID used for the transaction (darivemula3@ptyes) appeared suspicious
- VNIT College Nagpur confirmed via email that no student named Nilaboyina Srigiridhara Aditya was enrolled at their institution
- The college administration revealed they had received similar inquiries from at least three other individuals who had been defrauded in identical circumstances
Police Investigation Intensifies
An FIR was officially registered on Saturday based on Gawade's March 29 complaint to the Airport Police Station. Law enforcement authorities are pursuing multiple investigative avenues:
- Collecting and analyzing CCTV footage from the airport premises where the incidents occurred
- Requesting bank details to trace the account holder who received the fraudulent transactions
- Compiling information about additional victims who may have been targeted by the same individual
A senior police officer from the Airport Police Station stated, "Our team is meticulously gathering evidence through surveillance footage to identify and locate this individual. We have also initiated proceedings to obtain banking details that will help us track the accused through financial trails."
Broader Pattern of Deception
This incident is not isolated. Police have confirmed that between three to four people have been duped using this identical method outside Mumbai Airport. The consistency of the scam suggests an experienced fraudster who has refined his approach through repeated execution.
The conman's strategy relies on several psychological factors: the natural sympathy people feel for students in distress, the urgency of travel situations, and the convincing use of fabricated documentation that appears legitimate at first glance.
Official Safety Advisory
Mumbai Police have issued clear guidelines for travelers:
- Exercise extreme caution when approached by strangers seeking financial assistance at transportation hubs
- Verify any claims of institutional affiliation through official channels before providing help
- Immediately alert airport authorities or local police if encountering suspicious individuals making similar requests
- Report any such incidents promptly to enable quicker investigation and prevention of further crimes
The police emphasize that while helping those in genuine need is commendable, verification is crucial in public spaces where sophisticated scams are increasingly prevalent. The investigation continues as authorities work to apprehend the individual responsible for these calculated deceptions.
