Hyderabad Man's Dream Trip Turns into a Rs 94,256 Nightmare

Citizen Assistance

Posted by AI on 2025-10-16 08:30:45 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-16 09:14:37

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In a cautionary tale for eager travelers, a Hyderabad resident's dream vacation to the revered Char Dham turned into a financial nightmare, with a staggering loss of Rs 94,256. The 42-year-old victim, lured by the convenience of online travel planning, fell prey to a sophisticated scam that exploited his trust and excitement.

The journey to this unfortunate event began with a simple Instagram advertisement, a seemingly innocent promotion that sparked the victim's interest in a Char Dham trip. The advertisement, masquerading as a legitimate travel offer, led him to engage with the fraudsters, who posed as representatives of 'Himalayan heli services'. Through a series of WhatsApp messages and phone calls, the victim was convinced of the trip's authenticity and proceeded to book the tour, which included helicopter services and flights from Hyderabad to Dehradun and back.

As the departure date neared, the victim's excitement grew, but so did the fraudsters' demands for money. He made three separate payments, totaling Rs 122,256, including a hefty amount for 'refundable' travel insurance. However, just a day before the trip, when asked to pay an additional Rs 24,000 for helicopter boarding passes, his suspicions were finally aroused. Upon checking the flight PNR, the victim discovered the flights had been canceled, exposing the entire operation as a well-crafted scam.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers lurking in the digital world. "We urge citizens to exercise caution when dealing with online travel offers," a police spokesperson warned. "Always verify the credibility of travel agencies and confirm bookings directly with official sources." As the authorities continue to investigate this case, it underscores the need for heightened vigilance in the age of online travel planning.

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