A Hyderabad man’s dream of a luxurious cruise trip was shattered after he was duped of almost ₹2.5 lakh in an online cruise booking scam. He reportedly booked a trip through a fake website that claimed to offer cruise journeys to several cities. Here’s all you need to know about this.
Hyderabad Man Loses ₹2.42 Lakh In Cruise Booking Scam
According to Telangana Today, on December 26, 2025, the Kacheguda-based man came across a fraudulent website offering cruise trips to Kochi, Lakshadweep, and Mumbai. Trusting the website, he booked a cruise trip for four people online and paid an advance payment of ₹23,680.
The Hyderabad man, dreaming of a luxurious cruise trip, however, was in for a scam. NDTV reported that since the man was not able to send the entire cruise amount in one go, the fraudsters urged him to make multiple payments for the cruise trip. They went on to dupe him on the excuse of arranging Lakshadweep permit letters and additional charges for two children.
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Here’s All You Need To Know About This
The online cruise scammers then claimed there were payment failures and cancelled the Hyderabad-based man’s booking. Without offering any valid explanation, they demanded ₹48,500 as cancellation charges, assuring him that the remaining amount would be fully refunded, city police said. The man was contacted via WhatsApp by individuals impersonating cruise customer care executives. As per reports, the victim has lost ₹2,42,488 in this entire scam.
The city police have booked a case in this matter. Furthermore, they have also cautioned people to be careful while booking cruise packages. They have advised citizens only through official websites or authorised travel agents. They have also asked people to report cyber fraud immediately by calling the 1930 helpline.
Please exercise caution while making online bookings. With online fraud becoming increasingly common, it is essential to thoroughly verify websites and booking portals before planning your next vacation.
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