A major travel booking fraud has come to light in Ghaziabad, where 13 people were cheated of ₹78.71 lakh after being lured with attractive discounts on tour packages and air tickets. Police have registered an FIR against two accused — Satyam Shukla and Harshit Shukla — and initiated a detailed investigation. The accused allegedly posed as authorised agents of a reputed travel company, gained the trust of victims and collected large sums in the name of bookings.
The case surfaced following a complaint filed by Pawan Kumar Singh, a resident of Shaktikhand-4, Indirapuram, along with other victims. According to the complaint, the accused offered heavily discounted domestic and international travel tickets and tour packages, assuring customers that any cancelled ticket would be refunded in full without deductions, along with additional commission.
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From discount promises to complete deception
Investigators said Satyam and Harshit introduced themselves as residents of Mahagun Mywoods, Gaur Society, Noida, and approached potential customers through social networks and personal contacts. Initially, bookings were made for international destinations such as Bali, Dubai and Thailand.
A few days later, the accused allegedly cancelled the tickets, claiming a new deal under which the entire amount would be refunded with an additional 10–15% commission. This assurance helped them prolong the deception.
Soon, the fraud expanded. Victims neither received tickets nor refunds. The accused also targeted salaried professionals, luring them with discounted tour packages for Mumbai, Goa, Kashmir, Assam and several destinations in South India.
Settlement façade, cheques bounce
After repeated follow-ups, the victims finally confronted the accused. On November 14, 2025, a written settlement agreement was executed at a flat in Noida, where the accused issued cheques to the complainants, promising repayment.
However, when the cheques were deposited, all were dishonoured. This triggered collective complaints by the victims, leading to police intervention.
Past fraud cases on record
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had been named in earlier cheating cases and had previously served jail terms. Police officials said that the initial evidence corroborates the allegations, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest both accused at the earliest.
How the fraud was executed
According to investigators, the accused deliberately targeted strangers, primarily from the business community, by offering high returns and “risk-free” refunds. Once money was transferred, bookings were cancelled under various pretexts, and victims were pacified with repeated promises of refund plus commission.
In reality, neither the promised services were delivered nor the money returned, indicating a well-planned and systematic fraud operation.
FCRF alert: Rising trend of travel-related fraud
Cyber and financial crime experts from Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) have warned that travel and ticketing frauds are rising sharply in urban India. According to FCRF, fraudsters increasingly rely on the “high discount + zero-risk refund” narrative to build trust.
They then delay refunds through cancellations, commissions, post-dated cheques and fake agreements. FCRF cautions that in such cases, the digital money trail fades quickly, making the first 24–48 hours after fraud detection critical for recovery and investigation.
Need for heightened caution
The case highlights the growing risks in online and offline travel bookings. Experts advise travellers to independently verify:
- The travel company’s official website and registration details
- The physical office address
- Authorisation credentials of agents
- Refund and cancellation policies in writing
Promises of unusually high discounts, guaranteed refunds and extra commissions should be treated as red flags.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and will focus on bank records, digital footprints and call data to build the case. Citizens have been urged to immediately report suspicious offers to the police or cyber helpline, as timely reporting significantly improves the chances of action and recovery.
