Char Dham helicopter scam: Hyderabad man loses Rs 94,000 to fake tour agent

Hyderabad: A 42-year-old Hyderabad resident lost more than Rs 94,000 after falling victim to a fake tour operator who posed as a representative of Himalayan Heli Services.

The victim had booked a Char Dham trip through an Instagram advertisement and realised he had been cheated only a day before his scheduled departure.

An Instagram advertisement led to a fraudulent deal

Police said the victim came across an advertisement on Instagram offering Char Dham helicopter packages and contacted the alleged operator through WhatsApp and phone calls.

The total cost quoted for the package, which included helicopter services and round-trip air tickets from Hyderabad to Dehradun, was Rs 94,256 for travel scheduled between October 12 and 17.

The victim made payments of Rs 30,000 on October 3, Rs 64,256 on October 4 and another Rs 28,000 on October 7, which the operator claimed was for refundable travel insurance.

Fraud exposed after cancelled flight

On October 11, a day before the trip, the operator demanded an additional Rs 24,000 for a helicopter boarding pass.

Growing suspicious, the victim checked his flight PNR and discovered that the tickets had already been cancelled. Realising it was a scam, he immediately approached the police and filed a complaint.

Police caution travellers

Authorities have urged citizens to be cautious while booking travel packages online, especially those advertised on social media platforms.

They advised people to verify the credentials of travel agencies and confirm flight or hotel bookings directly through official airline or tourism websites. Officials also warned against making payments for insurance, boarding passes, or any additional services without valid receipts or documentation.

Travellers were reminded not to share personal or banking details with unverified agents or through insecure links.

How to report cyber fraud

Citizens are advised to immediately report any suspicious transactions or online scams by calling the national cybercrime helpline 1930 or visiting www.cybercrime.gov.in. In urgent cases, complaints can also be made via WhatsApp or phone at 8712665171.