Noida: Authorities Uncover Travel Scam; 32 Arrested, Including 17 Women
Image Source: Hindustan Times
A major travel scam was uncovered in Noida on Saturday, leading to the arrest of 32 individuals, including 17 women, from a fake travel agency, according to police reports. The arrests followed a complaint from a resident who alleged she had been defrauded of ₹84,000 through a fraudulent nine-day holiday package. Authorities are now investigating the syndicate’s financial gains from similar scams, said DCP Shakti Mohan Awasthi (Central Noida).
“This was a well-organized operation that used deceptive tactics to exploit people under the pretext of offering holiday packages,” Awasthi stated. The scam involved cold-calling potential victims using contact details obtained from the dark web, followed by in-person presentations at their homes. Payments were taken in cash or via bank transfers, but the promised services were never delivered, and refund requests were ignored, police said.
Among the prime suspects are 24-year-old Ankita Kumar, a team leader, and Ajay Kishore. However, police have withheld details about their origins and the names of other suspects due to the ongoing investigation. The gang primarily targeted individuals living far from Noida to deter victims from filing complaints locally. Despite this, numerous complaints—both online and offline—were received against the company.
The complaint that initiated the investigation was lodged on November 28, 2024, after the victim reported the company’s failure to provide the promised hotel bookings or process a refund. A police raid conducted on November 29 uncovered laptops, tablets, routers, and documents linked to the scam.
Investigators found that the company operated on a membership model, selling fake travel deals. Victims who reached out to customer care were met with evasive responses and were often blocked if they persisted with their complaints. The company had already been flagged for fraud, with its accounts frozen by Bengaluru police and complaints registered in Raigad, Maharashtra.
The arrested individuals, aged 19 to 37, included senior officials and team leaders. They have been charged under Sections 316(2) (criminal breach of trust) and 318(4) (organized fraud) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act. Police are now examining the involvement of senior officials and others who financially benefited from the scam. Two bank accounts linked to the fake firm have also been seized.
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- Aryan Gulati is a dedicated media student based in Meerut with a wealth of experience in various newspapers and media houses. He has numerous published articles and specializes in political and crime news writing, demonstrating a strong commitment to impactful journalism.
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