Nainital: Dr. Mannan Gupta, Chairman of Elantis Healthcare, and his daughter fell victim to a hotel booking scam while planning a trip to Kainchi Dham near Nainital. They were duped of ₹26,500 when the hotel they thought they had booked turned out to be non-existent.
Details of the Scam
Dr. Gupta came across a property called Kainchi Dham Ashram during an online search and found its proximity to the Neem Karoli Baba Ashram appealing. According to The Indian Express, an individual claiming to be a hotel employee convinced him to book the property, stating it was located inside the temple compound.
The scammer shared bank details with Gupta for payment. Despite noticing that the account name did not match the hotel, Gupta proceeded with an NEFT transfer of ₹13,050 to secure two rooms. However, the scammer claimed the payment had not been received and requested an additional payment of ₹13,450 via UPI, promising a refund of the initial amount. Trusting the assurances, Gupta made the second transfer, only to realize later that the hotel did not exist.
Realization and Complaint
After repeated attempts to contact the scammer failed, Dr. Gupta realized he had been duped. He subsequently filed a complaint on the cybercrime portal. Reflecting on the incident, he said, “He stopped taking my calls, even my accountant’s calls. After persistently trying to reach him for a day, I realized it was a scam.”
Rising Trend of Online Fraud
Online scams targeting doctors appear to be on the rise. In a related case, an Indore-based doctor lost ₹3.08 crore to a scammer who promised high returns on investments.
Advice for Travelers
This incident serves as a reminder to verify the authenticity of online bookings and ensure transactions are made through trusted platforms. Double-checking property details, consulting official websites, and avoiding direct payments to unverified accounts can help prevent such frauds.
Dr. Gupta’s case highlights the need for increased vigilance and stronger safeguards against online scams.
