Malayalis in Bahrain lose money in air ticket scam: How to stay safe?

Manama: Malayali expatriates who are already anxious about the surging airfares now have to be wary of scamsters trying to loot them by offering air tickets at cheaper rates. These fraudsters have been luring people by promising payment services including the ones that are to be mandatorily paid by expatriates, using credit cards. Even though one of them has been arrested due to the efforts of a Malayali who fell prey to this scam, many more have lost huge sums of money.

Last month, a Thiruvananthapuram native lost around 1,300 dinars after a group approached him, ‘offering’ to buy the family air tickets for 640 dinars, 100 dinars less than the normal rate. He said he got the offer through a friend. The scamsters told him that they would purchase tickets using the credit card of a prominent bank in India and he needed to give an equivalent sum in Bahraini dinar. As per the contract, the group purchased air tickets for the family, at the agreed fare.

Fake tickets and PNR number
The tickets were purchased two months before the journey. Even though he was given ‘confirm’ tickets, he couldn’t find the tickets when he checked the PNR number online. Later, he went directly to the airline’s office to check the status of the tickets. It was only then that he realised that the group had cheated him by providing fake air tickets with fake PNR numbers. He immediately called the Malayali who had purchased the tickets for him; however, his calls went unattended.

When he went to the address that was given on their travel agency’s CR number, he understood that even though they had hired a temporary office, a company didn’t exist there (meanwhile, the building owner said that the scamsters hadn’t paid the rent for three months). The Bahraini citizen, who owns the building, told him that he too had no idea that his office space was used for running a scam.

Police nab the culprit
Those who had lost money decided to join forces when they learned that a Vadakara native residing in Gudaibiya too had fallen prey to the scam. From a friend’s phone, they contacted the Malayalis who had offered them cheap air tickets. They were asked to meet the group at a location to discuss the details of the tickets. The Malayali fraudsters reached the location without knowing that it was a trap.

When they found out that they had no escape, they begged not to be handed over to the police as they feared they would be deported. They arrived at a compromise after a few social workers spoke to both parties and the scamsters promised to either return the money or give original air tickets to the victims. Even though the Thiruvananthapuram native received three tickets, they were cancelled by the travel agency on the day before his journey. He had to purchase new tickets by paying double the amount. He then filed a complaint and the police were able to nab a person.

How to stay safe from scamsters?
As per Bahrain media, the Capital Governorate police said expatriates should do the necessary background checks before giving money to someone who offers air tickets or other financial services at cheaper rates. The police said expats should deal only with licenced travel agents for bookings and should alert any potentially fraudulent activities regarding the same without delay.