Holiday Scam Hits Bahrain

Gulf Insider

14-05-2025

What began as a clever way to beat summer's soaring flight prices has now left hundreds of Bahrain residents with nothing but broken holiday dreams and empty wallets.
As social media buzzed with travellers boasting of cheaper fares by stopping over in Asian or European cities before heading home, a Gudaibiya-based travel firm saw an opportunity.
Its representatives began approaching visitors at busy malls across the Kingdom, offering lucky draws for a chance to win a 'mini-vacation' stopover package this summer.
Old scam, new twist
While baiting shoppers with lucky draws and free crockery giveaways to push overpriced travel deals is an old scam, this version was far more convincing.
It tapped into the trending 'travel hack' for avoiding summer peak fares – and it worked.
Anil Thomas (name changed), one of many victims, said he lost nearly BD500.
'We thought it was a genuine offer. They promised flight tickets with stopovers in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand or even Maldives, combined with stays in luxury hotels, at a fraction of the peak season rates,' he told The Daily Tribune.
Anil, who has since lodged complaints with the police, Tawasul and the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, added, 'They even offered flexible packages – travel any time within three years. People with families were their main targets, charging different rates for different destinations.'
Vanished without a trace
Anil's own booking – a supposed Singapore-Malaysia-India trip, later changed to Maldives due to a claimed 'visa issue' – was due to begin this week. Instead, the family of four was left packed and ready, but no tickets ever arrived.
Calls went unanswered and the Gudaibiya office was shuttered. 'The company's commercial registration is about to expire in June. I believe they've scammed hundreds and fled the country,' Anil alleged. 'When I spoke to hotel staff, they told me that the travel company had booked the conference hall for every day of the week for the past year. They were running this operation for a full year, continuously duping people. What has come out now is only the tip of the iceberg.'
According to him, the scam operated on an industrial scale. 'They hired conference halls at hotels in Seef, where families were brought in droves after being told they had won a lucky draw at a mall. The halls were packed every day of the week. EMI payment options made it easy for people to fall for the deal,' he said. Anil has since begun contacting other victims through social media. 'Many people are ashamed to come forward. But silence only encourages more scams,' he warned.
Company silent
When The Daily Tribune contacted the travel company for a response, the company did not reply by the time of publication.
Also read: Bahrain Ranks First In MENA & GCC Regions In The Global Network Excellence Index