A retired government employee of Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district has fallen victim to a fake Haj pilgrimage scam and lost ₹12.17 lakh after being promised a private pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against two people after the complaint and are investigating the fraud.
The case has galvanized travel fraud investigators who are now investigating the fraud and recovering the loss of the victim.
According to the complaint, Jameel Ahmad, a retired employee of the District Supply Office and a resident of Khatakalan village in the Milak area of Rampur, frequently visited Moti Masjid near Nodara Chowki for prayers. During his visits, he came into contact with the imam, Khwaja Ahmad Qari, and his associate, Imran.
According to the complainant, after he and his wife Phool Bi failed to secure a Haj pilgrimage on the official government quota, the accused offered to arrange the journey through a private channel. The couple, on their assurance, accepted the arrangement.
According to the FIR, the accused gradually gained the confidence of the retired employee and collected money over several weeks for various travel-related expenses. Jameel Ahmad claimed he handed over approximately ₹9 lakh in cash to facilitate the pilgrimage.
The complainant said the money was from his lifetime savings and included pension benefits, money from the sale of family land, and money earned by selling his wife’s gold earrings. According to the complaint, the accused assured him that all travel arrangements, including visas, flight tickets, and accommodation, would be completed before the departure date.
The financial toll was said to be more than the payments made to the accused. On May 14, Jameel Ahmad planned a traditional farewell feast for relatives, friends, and villagers as he knew he and his wife would soon go on pilgrimage. The gathering cost about ₹2.50 lakh.
The complainant also mentioned that the accused had possession of a goat worth around ₹17,000 and several household items worth around ₹50,000 from his home. When you take into account the cash payments and farewell ceremony expenses, the total loss was around ₹12.17 lakh.
The fraud came to light when the promised journey did not happen. It was alleged that the accused had initially sent flight tickets to the victim's son via WhatsApp and the boy believed that his trip was secured. But the tickets were subsequently deleted from his system and the accused said that the booking was cancelled because of some untimely event.
Because the departure date was delayed, the family decided to verify the travel documents at a local café that provided online ticket verification services. It was there they discovered the tickets were forged and did not correspond to any genuine airline booking.
When he realized he was being deceived, Jameel Ahmad asked for his money back and passports, but, the complaint states, the accused refused to return them, verbally abused him, and threatened to implicate him in false criminal cases if he kept pursuing the matter.
The city police have registered an FIR against Khwaja Ahmad Qari and Imran under relevant sections of cheating and other alleged crimes. Police officials confirmed that an investigation is being done and appropriate legal action will be taken if the report is proven.
The incident underscores the increasing risk of fraud among people going for religious pilgrimages. Pilgrims are advised to only use authorised travel operators and government Haj agencies when booking travel tickets, the authorities say. Travel documents, visas, flight tickets, and payment receipts should be checked through official channels before they are sent to other countries to avoid being taken for money.
Officials also advise people to avoid large cash payments without proper documentation and to report any suspicious travel offers to the police or relevant authorities immediately. Law enforcement agencies would like to establish the complete trajectory and accountability if all the allegations are proven to be true as Rampur case investigations continue.
The fraud is also an example of fraudsters targeting deeply personal and religious aspirations. Exercising caution, verifying credentials, and relying on authorised agencies are important for all of us when we go on an overseas pilgrimage or other major travel.
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