Crystal Sands Tourism Scam | History
Hundreds of UAE residents were allegedly duped by a tour company, which sold non-existent dream holiday packages with stays in luxury hotels at discounted rates, said they were alerted of the scam through a bulk email.
The email from an anonymous sender alerted victims about the scale and severity of the scam worth millions of dirhams. By the time the victims - mostly Indian expats from Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah - realised the fraud, culprits had made away with the loot.
The office of Make My Tour in the Capital is now shut with a complaint note from the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED) pasted on the door. Victims have lodged police complaints, reached out to the embassy and sought legal assistance.
'They mesmerise you with deals'
The trap, victims said, is laid in the malls across the country.
"A pleasant sales executive is at the entrance of every mall, who invites you to fill a simple form. The next day, you receive a call saying you have won a lucky draw and need to be in their office with the family to collect the prize. They then introduce tour packages and mesmerise you. Eventually, you will sign the contract and pay through cheque or credit card. But, when you try to avail the services, it will not work," said Indhu Saravanan, who lost Dh35,000.
Victims claimed the tour packages had 75 days of five-star hotel stays anywhere in the world within 25 weeks of registration. The rates were 10 to 15 per cent cheaper than any offer in the market. However, no promises were kept and dream holiday never happened.
"Once a Make My Tour executive told me booking was done for a hotel in Fujairah but when we went there it wasn't. The executive told me to pay t full amount at the hotel, which would be reimbursed later. But I was duped," said Santhosh Rajamanickam, who paid Dh25,000 for a package.
The scammers don't leave anybody and sold packages with up to 90 per cent discount. "They offered me a package for Dh15,000 when I didn't agree, the rates dropped. To my shock, they finally offered the same package for Dh1,750," said Mohiyadhum Mubarak.
The victims, from different emirates, have formed a WhatsApp group and recently held a gathering to deliberate on the future course of action. "We want to create awareness. Our money is lost, we don't want anyone else to go through this agony," they said.
Khaleej Times contacted the company but operations in Abu Dhabi have been closed down.
Modus operandi of scammers
Babu M.K., who alllegedly lost Dh14,000 in the tour scam, said his doubts of foul play by the Make My Tour company turned into reality when all victims received an email with details of the modus operandi.
"Someone wrote to 200 or more victims informing about the fraud and that the mastermindis in Sharjah. The sender asked us to fight to get the money back. But these matters are always settled with postdated dud cheques. We have reached out to the DED, Indian Embassy and also sought legal assistance. The names of culprits we know are Amjith, Upasana, Manisha, Manoj and Vignesh.
Another company - Smiles for Miles - in Dubai is now operational with the same staff who duped us. The booking form of this new company still has the same contact details of Make My Tour," alleged Babu.
Karthik S., a resident of Fujairah, noted the entire operations happened in three months' time. "They would have shelled out Dh200,000 to Dh300,000 for their operations and made up to Dh2.5 million to Dh3 million. We are just a handful of the thousands who are being duped across the country."
[email protected]
Link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/tour-scam-an-anonymous-email-alerted-victims-in-uae
Myself also victim. we paid 17000 QR until now we did not get any benefits
email : [email protected]
Please be aware of frauds .. dont beleive their colorful words..
Crystal sands tourism and the above both are same .. please visit and get the money..
Please gather all victims immediately
[email protected] and Anikat knows them.. where are they..
Vickey krishna bala ram krishna Passport No. is N7603970.
QID 28735679887
Vickey Passport No. is N7603970. Please try to locate him in india.
Dear friends, please be alert one more scam also going on
Crystal sands and Al safar golden both are same ..
Dont loose your money..
dont trust @the punisher (crystal guys)targeting victim to divert and getting money.
bank cant do anything . do as mentioned in lukeantony post follow the same .
dont delay ..and careful .. very soon they will be punished
I know what mahasivaraja has done.. even he also knows.. you are free to file complaint.. if you get money through this you let me know..
I am from banking feild thats why i told you guys to raise the chargeback.. whoever listen to me and follow me will have chace to get back there money..
Till now bank has done reversal of 64k qar from crystals account..
one more thing. those who file a complaint against these scammers, then the fucking people post a threatening message in public platform that they will not refund money to those who filed case. For this threatening message, they mean that "nobody will go legally to get the money back". this is their plan.
Dear all victims,
If you want to get back your money, you need to sent a mail to INDIAN EMBASSY.
Mail - [email protected]
Cc to [email protected]
you have to attach all the documents and share your experience in that mail. Within 5 working days they will transfer the case to India subject to the police department in karnataka and Telangana,Hydrabad. then they will recommend the case to Qatar government.
Also file a case in Duhail CID office and public prosecution.
Dont't be late. because raising disputes in banks will not work and we will not get our money back and they will ran off with our hard earned money.
@punisher
Don't you feel shame to say like this? why you are blaming Mahashivaraja for this? who made the fucking scam? you(punisher) or mahashivaraja. We have all the rights to file a case aganist the people in crytalsands. if we file a case, then why you post threatening messages like this? do you think that you all are safe in India? don't think that you all are clever, and victims are fool.
For All Morons Scammers of Crystal sands, specially to Mr. Rahul, who was giving lecture on Haram money.
So i want to tell you all. Eat this Haram Money and feed with this haram money to your children and family.
But one thing is sure judgement will happen and the God is watching everyone.so be ready for it. We are coming to you guys. Warning!!!!! World is small. Go and hide yourself somewhere in Rat hole
People whose transaction is beyond 6 months kindly approach to visa or mastercard for chargeback.. chances are less but you never know.. if they accept you will get your money.. i am following up with them.. if i get any news from mastercard i will update..
Crystal have documents of 9 people.. they know everyone's ids and there issue.. anymore new ids with fake name will go to mahasivaraja.. he has to forget his money.. crystal accepting alll chage backs.. but they are firm will not accept his chargeback.. and made all documents handy.. he thought he is very smart.. but world is updating every day.. Mahasivarajan be ready for worse what you expect.. leave gulf asap.. once you go behind bar.. no one will save you..
Just for ur inf
@littleboy
@crystal_rachel
@spiderajay
@harushi
@nixonnix2001
This all ids are yours.. with same ips.. i can find this.. means cyber will definitely.. you know what mail you sent them.. this is with maximum members of last 6 month.. crytstal is ready to accept chargeback on tne confirmation of complaints raise against mahasivaraja.. tomorrow i will share his qid his passport number.. his families details.. and anything you guys require.. last 6 months customers your chargeback will be accepted by crystal if you make complaints about mahasivaraja..
I came to know crystal is accepting all the chargeback requests.. there account is in minus 50k.. so few people might have got chargeback..
PS- dont ask sources.. whoever got the chargeback, please post here..
When you are calling to the bank tell them you want to raise the dispute.. dont use term chargeback.. if you will become successful in raising dispute.. you will get your money..
Another scamm is going on
Al Safar Global Star
Office no 502, Al mana Building ,
Building no 50
Bin Mahmoud, Doha Qatar..
Dear All,
I came to know crystal sands team left from the country.. now they left the country.. we all lost our money.. i called to the bank for charge back.. but as per bank they accept disputes wirhin 6 months period..
Whoever have transaction within 6 months apply for disputes.. as their office is close they will not able to send necessary documents like agreement id copy charge slip to the bank.. and bank has to accept your charge back.. it takes around 4 weeks to get your refund on cards..
PS- your card must be visa or mastercard.. irrespective of debit or credit..
How to request a chargeback
If asking the merchant for a refund didn't work, request a chargeback with your credit card issuer. Many card issuers let you dispute transactions by phone, mail or online. You may also be able to submit a dispute directly through your card issuer's mobile app.
When you submit a chargeback, you may need to include supporting documents, such as copies of a receipt, invoice, contract and any communications you had with the merchant. Anticipate that the dispute can last up to 90 days or two billing cycles, whichever is shorter.
Once you submit a chargeback request, the exact process varies depending on your card issuer, network and situation, but generally results in some back-and-forth between various parties. Here's an example of how the process may go, according to Experian:
You file a chargeback request.
Your card issuer reviews the dispute and will decide if it's valid or if you have to pay. If your issuer accepts the dispute, they'll pass it on to the card network, such as Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover, and you may receive a temporary account credit.
The card network reviews the transaction and either requires your card issuer to pay or sends the dispute to the merchant's acquiring bank.
The merchant's acquiring bank takes one of two actions: Sends the dispute back to the card network and says the issuer is at fault or forwards the dispute to the merchant.
If the merchant gets it, they either agree to pay for the transaction or dispute the chargeback.
If the merchant disputes the chargeback, there may be more back-and-forth as the merchant, acquiring bank and card issuer try to settle the matter. But if the merchant agrees to pay, the process is a bit smoother.
At the end of the day, the card network decides who pays. A successful dispute will deem the temporary credit you received to become permanent.
This is only way to get refund.. dont waste your time and call the bank and raise disputes..
RED ALERT Crystal Sands Tourism.
Company is closed .. al people escaped to India.. No one in Qatar.
Office no. 110, 1st floor, Bin Dirham Plaza (above Lulu Express), B – Ring Road, Doha, Qatar.
Ph. No: +974 40370383 /+97477633438 /+974 77610744 (10.30 am to 6.30 pm except on Sunday)
Email: [email protected]
Please gather all victims immediately
More than 50 million Qatar riyals looted
Vickey Krishna Balaram QID 28735679887 Ph : 77610744 /60070678
Kiran 33222175
Rahul Galote 77610772
Sham 33550795/33483811
Chiraq 77610744
AAlya 77633438
Jaffer 66952720
Paul 51179733
Pooja 60079246
Tanzil 66316470
David 60071901
Alya 60080386
Shankar 5045991
Hi every one. Be aware.
a new company is getting active same same like crystal sand named Alsafar global
Their website: https://alsafarglobal.com/.
their Formula on whatsapp.
Greetings From Al Safar Global star
*Congratulations,
Mr. Mukundha *
coupon no : 010XX
* Received gift's*
1.Lulu voucher/Kitchen Article
2.International Holiday stay voucher (4N&5days) free accommodation for 2Adults and 2kids Valid Upto 1 years,
* Husband and wife should come mandatory, gift distribution will complete within
30 to 35 mnts*
Al Safar Global Star
Office no 502, Al mana Building ,
Building no 50
Bin Mahmoud, Doha Qatar..
3pm to 9.30pm
Thanks Regards,
*Miss Nitya
Please be aware of scams /frauds
Same like happened to me ... what mentioned there all are same.
Targeting famlies with temp staff infront of mall/supermarket/family gathering areas..
Plesae do not get into the trap
Same blueprint as crystal sands..and gulf gate tourism scam.
Since rules are strict in qatar, expats assume no scam can happen. Also supermarket raffles are widely seen (which never works), culprits take advantage of such schemes. When couples hear that they won a prize, they think it is a legit raffle coupon.
To cheat somone, keep feeding his greed, make him jealous of others, play deception and mind game. Once card is swiped, khalaas.
Their contract is sooo scam friendly n not customer friendly. (Non refundable..gotcha)
Is it Crystal sand's sister concern or what? They are as dubious as them.
https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2023/02/06/uae-residents-lose-thousands-to-tour-operator-accused-of-fraud/
More recent one.
"A pleasant sales executive is at the entrance of every mall, who invites you to fill a simple form. The next day, you receive a call saying you have won a lucky draw and need to be in their office with the family to collect the prize. They then introduce tour packages and mesmerise you. Eventually, you will sign the contract and pay through cheque or credit card. But, when you try to avail the services, it will not work," said Indhu Saravanan, who lost Dh35,000.
The alleged company offered dream packages like 7000(16 day), 16500(35 days), 35000(75 days)