Malayali expatriates in Bahrain are facing a serious threat from scammers offering discounted airfares, leading to significant financial losses. Recently, several individuals have reported falling prey to fraudsters promising cheap air tickets through dubious payment methods. These scammers, operating under the guise of buying tickets with Indian bank credit cards, have left victims with fake tickets and substantial monetary losses.
For instance, a resident from Thiruvananthapuram lost over 1,300 Bahraini dinars after accepting an offer that seemed too good to be true—tickets priced below market rates. Despite receiving what appeared to be confirmed tickets with PNR numbers, they discovered the tickets were fake when attempting to verify them online. The victim’s attempts to contact the scammers were futile, revealing that the group had set up a temporary office without proper credentials.
In response to these incidents, authorities have urged expatriates to exercise caution. They advise verifying the legitimacy of offers from non-licensed agents and ensuring all financial transactions are conducted through reputable channels. Immediate reporting of suspicious activities to the police or relevant authorities is also recommended to prevent further scams.
