Vistara Holidays, a travel agency located near Chettikulangara, is under investigation after multiple customers filed complaints of fraud. The branch manager, identified as Aarushi, along with another staff member, is accused of defrauding individuals by selling fake travel packages.
The first complaint was lodged by Dr. Jithu Godwin, a 35-year-old resident of Nanthancode, who paid Rs 85,000 for a 15-day tour package to northern India. This package was to include free accommodation at well-known hotels. However, despite paying for the tour last year, Dr. Godwin claims that the trip was never organized. After the accused stopped answering his calls, Dr. Godwin decided to file a case.
Two additional residents from Thiruvananthapuram have also come forward, reporting similar experiences of being scammed, resulting in significant financial losses.
Authorities are warning the public to be cautious of the growing trend of holiday and travel-related scams. They recommend thoroughly verifying tour deals and confirming bookings before making any payments. The police have initiated an investigation and are working to ensure justice for the victims who were misled into losing large sums of money for non-existent holiday packages.
