The Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell has busted a cyber fraud racket targeting foreign nationals, primarily from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The operation was allegedly run by a Kirti Nagar-based company, AVS Holidays, which posed as a legitimate travel agency. The key accused, Akshay Sharma, was arrested on June 24, and investigators seized several digital devices and forged documents, including fake death and medical certificates used to exploit airline refund systems.
According to the police, the scam involved sophisticated digital marketing techniques to promote fraudulent flight booking and cancellation services. The accused used SEO, social media promotions, and paid online advertisements to make their fake services appear at the top of search engine results, often outranking legitimate travel providers. Unsuspecting travelers who engaged with these ads were tricked into sharing sensitive financial details, such as credit card numbers and CVVs, under the pretext of flight booking. Tickets were booked in victims’ names and then canceled without their knowledge, while forged documents were submitted to airlines to claim full refunds.
In many cases, victims received only partial refunds after fake cancellation charges were deducted—or no refunds at all. During interrogation, Akshay Sharma admitted to running the operation for several years, using a fake travel agency and call centers to carry out the fraud. Preliminary forensic analysis revealed hundreds of forged documents used to back refund claims. An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the IT Act, and the investigation is ongoing to identify Sharma’s accomplices and uncover the full scope of the scam.
