Andheri family books copter ride to Vaishno Devi online, duped

Complainant Hitesh Khushalani

An Andheri-based family of six have been duped by fraudsters under the pretext of booking them a helicopter ride to Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra. A complaint regarding the fraud has been filed at Versova police station, but no FIR yet. According to the complainant Hitesh Khushalani, a resident of Seven Bungalows in Andheri West, the accused had created a fake website under the name of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Khushalani family had made a payment of around Rs 20,000 for helicopter booking for Vaishno Devi Yatra on February 13.

Speaking with mid-day Khushalani said, "I was looking for a helicopter booking website and found many options on the internet. I clicked on the first website and contacted the given number. A person who introduced himself as Aakash Singh asked us to apply for the ticket on the website and book the ticket for March 14. Singh also informed us that tickets were available and two vaccination doses were mandatory for travelling. Singh also asked for our ID proof for booking and I sent him via WhatsApp. "

"Later Singh asked us to send Rs 13,000 via NEFT to the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and told us that it was a government website. I assumed it to be a trusted account and transferred the money. Later, Singh called again and asked for Rs 7,000 as insurance for the helicopter ride to Katra. He told us that this is mandatory to pay the amount and in case of an untoward incident, it will be covered as life insurance," said Khushalani, who works with an IT firm.

He further added, "Singh sent me the booking details on the phone, but when we asked for tickets he blocked my number. I then called the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board and shared the number. I was told it was fake. I realised that I was duped and approached the Versova police," Khushalani further said. "I complained to the Katra police and Versova police. Still, my FIR has not been registered. From Katra, I found out about 10-15 more people who were cheated by the same fraudster in the past four to five days. He should be arrested," Khushalani said.

13 February
Day the family made the booking for the trip