Surat Cyber Crime Cell has arrested two men from the Saroli area for allegedly running a nationwide online shopping scam through fake clothing sales.
The accused, Ankit Tulshi Ajudia (29) and Maulik Nilesh Dughagra (25), both from Jamnagar, were operating fraudulent websites selling women’s garments. Police said they duped thousands of customers across 23 states and four Union Territories over the past two months, cheating people of nearly ₹20 lakh.
According to officials, the duo created a website called “Pavitrawear,” showcasing images of premium women’s clothing such as designer kurtis priced between ₹1,500 and ₹2,000. However, customers received low-quality products worth only ₹150–₹200 after placing orders.
During the probe, police accessed a backend system linked to a portal, where data of 3,762 orders from outside Gujarat was found. Investigators said the accused collected around ₹13.30 lakh through cash-on-delivery orders and ₹6.61 lakh via 477 prepaid orders.
Police added that the duo had earlier sold garments on established e-commerce platforms but faced losses, after which they allegedly turned to fraud by launching their own website with attractive listings to lure buyers.
Victims were spread across both North and South India. The accused have modest educational backgrounds, with one having studied up to Class 12 and the other up to Class 10.
A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway to identify possible links to a larger network.