Mysuru police bust interstate luxury car scam, 3 arrested

Mysuru : In a major crackdown, Mysuru police have exposed a large interstate luxury car fraud racket that duped both vehicle owners and buyers by using social media platforms like Facebook. The scam involved cheating victims of crores of rupees under the pretext of buying and selling second-hand high-end cars.

The  case came to light following a complaint filed by a Mysuru-based victim, Abhishek, who was allegedly cheated in a luxury car deal. Acting on the complaint, the district police launched an investigation and unearthed a well-organised network operating across states.
Police have arrested the main  accused Ruman Shariff, Mujahid Pasha and Shahabuddin. During the operation, authorities seized eight luxury vehicles worth approximately ₹1.10 crore from their possession.Officials said the gang had been running a sophisticated fraud model that left both sellers and buyers at a loss.
According to police, the  accused  would post attractive advertisements on Facebook claiming to purchase used luxury cars at competitive prices. Once a vehicle owner showed interest, they would pay a small advance amount to gain trust and take possession of the car.

“They created a sense of urgency and trust by offering quick deals and partial payments. Once they got hold of the vehicle, they moved to the next phase of the fraud,” a senior police officer said.The same vehicle would then be listed again for sale, often at a lower price, to attract potential buyers.
The gang executed a “double fraud” strategy—cheating both the original owner and the buyer. While the owner would not receive full payment, the buyer would be given the car without valid documents.“When buyers demanded original papers, the accused would disappear overnight. This left both parties cheated, with no legal ownership or recovery,” the officer added.Police suspect that the arrested trio are part of a larger interstate network. Efforts are underway to identify other accomplices and trace additional vehicles linked to the racket.

“We are investigating the digital and financial trail. More arrests are likely as this appears to be a well-planned organised crime network,” officials said.
Authorities have issued a warning to the public against falling for attractive online deals.“People should verify ownership documents, vehicle history, and payment channels before entering into any deal. Social media platforms are increasingly being misused for such frauds,” police cautioned.

The case highlights the growing threat of cyber-enabled financial crimes and the need for vigilance while engaging in online transactions.