The incident came to light after R. Mahadeva of Giriyabovi Palya lodged a complaint at the Nazarbad Police Station on August 28. According to the complaint, Mahadeva and five friends were planning a Goa trip when they came across information about the popular ‘Big Daddy Casino’ on Facebook.
Travel agent makes contact
According to the complaint, Mahadeva received a WhatsApp audio call on July 21 from a man identified as Suhas, who claimed to be a travel agent based in Goa.
Suhas allegedly offered to arrange luxury accommodation and casino access for the group for ₹3 lakh.
He reportedly promised the youths VIP treatment at ‘Big Daddy Casino’, including VIP rooms, a separate table and food arrangements.
Initially, Mahadeva told the caller that the group would make its own arrangements after reaching Goa. However, Suhas allegedly insisted that VIP treatment could only be arranged if it was booked in advance.
Aadhaar details shared
After discussing the offer with his friends, Mahadeva reportedly agreed to proceed with the booking.
The alleged travel agent then asked Mahadeva to provide the group’s Aadhaar card details, which he shared.
On July 23 at around 9.17 am, Mahadeva reportedly contacted Suhas and informed him that the group would leave for Goa that evening and reach the destination the following day.
Suhas subsequently sent bank account details to Mahadeva for making the payment.
₹3 lakh transferred
Believing the offer to be genuine, Mahadeva allegedly transferred ₹3 lakh to the bank account provided by Suhas.
However, the alleged fraudster reportedly contacted him again after the initial payment and claimed that the package price had increased to ₹5 lakh.
He then allegedly demanded another ₹60,000 from Mahadeva.
Trusting the caller’s claim, Mahadeva reportedly transferred the additional amount.
Phone switched off after payment
The situation reportedly came to light when Mahadeva attempted to contact Suhas after making the second payment.
The mobile phone was allegedly switched off, and the group could no longer reach the person who had offered to arrange their Goa package.
The youths then realised that they had allegedly been cheated.
According to the complaint, the total amount transferred by Mahadeva was ₹3.60 lakh.
Complaint lodged with Nazarbad Police
Following the alleged fraud, Mahadeva and his friends approached Nazarbad Police Station and lodged a complaint on August 28.
The complaint has brought attention to the risks involved in making travel and entertainment bookings through unknown individuals found on social media platforms.
The alleged scam involved a combination of a holiday package, luxury accommodation and VIP casino access, which reportedly persuaded the victims to transfer money before reaching Goa.
Social media contact raises concerns
The incident began after the group came across information about Big Daddy Casino on Facebook.
The alleged travel agent subsequently contacted Mahadeva through WhatsApp and offered to organise the trip-related arrangements.
Such cases highlight the need for travellers to verify the identity of people offering holiday packages online before making payments or sharing personal documents.
Warning for online travellers
The incident serves as a reminder for people planning holidays to be cautious when dealing with travel agents or package providers contacted through social media.
Travellers should independently verify the business, confirm the official booking channels and avoid transferring large sums to unfamiliar bank accounts based solely on promises made through messaging applications.
Sharing identity documents such as Aadhaar cards with unknown individuals can also create additional risks.
Investigation awaited
The complaint has been lodged with Nazarbad Police, and further investigation is expected to establish the identity of the person who allegedly contacted the group and received the money.
The circumstances surrounding the bank transfers and the use of the promised Goa package will also form part of the investigation.
The case highlights how attractive holiday offers and VIP experiences can be used to gain the trust of potential victims.
Conclusion
Six youths lost ₹3.60 lakh in an alleged online Goa trip booking scam after a man claiming to be a travel agent offered them luxury accommodation and VIP casino access.
The group reportedly transferred ₹3 lakh initially and another ₹60,000 after being told that the package price had increased. The alleged agent then became unreachable, prompting the victims to approach Nazarbad Police.
The incident serves as a caution for travellers to verify online travel offers carefully and use trusted booking channels before transferring money or sharing personal documents.