An Andheri-based family of six have been duped by fraudsters under the pretext of booking them a helicopter ride to Mata Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra. A complaint regarding the fraud has been filed at Versova police station, but no FIR yet. According to the complainant Hitesh Khushalani, a resident of Seven Bungalows in Andheri West, the accused had created a fake website under the name of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The Khushalani family had made a payment of around Rs 20,000 for helicopter booking for Vaishno Devi Yatra on February 13.

Speaking with mid-day Khushalani said, “I was looking for a helicopter booking website and found many options on the internet. I clicked on the first website and contacted the given number. A person who introduced himself as Aakash Singh asked us to apply for the ticket on the website and book the ticket for March 14. Singh also informed us that tickets were available and two vaccination doses were mandatory for travelling. Singh also asked for our ID proof for booking and I sent him via WhatsApp. “