An elderly Indian‑origin couple from Leicester, England, lost more than £2,500 after falling victim to a sophisticated online flight ticket fraud, police said. The couple only realised they had been tricked when they tried to check in for their flight at London’s Heathrow Airport, reports PTI.Dinesh Jansari (80) and his wife Shashikala (78) had booked what they believed were legitimate return tickets to Ahmedabad, India, through a travel service they thought was authentic. They were planning a two-month visit to India, but their travel plans collapsed when airline staff told them the tickets were fake.The Jansaris moved from Uganda to Leicester over 50 years ago and had previously travelled abroad using a travel agent.
They had been planning this return trip for eight years and decided to look for a cheaper deal online this time. During the booking process, they were contacted via WhatsApp by someone claiming to represent a known travel company. The scammers used the name “Fly Expedia,” leading the couple to believe they were dealing with a trustworthy service.“It was a very good deal, and the name said Expedia, which my husband had heard about,” Shashikala said.
She added: “I don’t know how [the scammer] got his number, but he started chatting on WhatsApp, and my husband booked with them.”The couple arranged separate coach transport to the airport, which was cancelled at short notice, so their son drove them from Leicester to Heathrow. At check-in, airline staff were unable to find the booking and confirmed the tickets were fake. “I just thought, what shall I do?” Shashikala said.The Jansaris eventually managed to fly a week later after booking through a legitimate travel agent. They have reported the fraud to the police and their bank, though they have been told it is unlikely the money will be recovered.The experiencemade the couple warn others, especially elderly travellers, about the dangers of online booking fraud. They stressed the importance of verifying websites and contacts before making payments.Leicestershire Police fraud supervisor Nicola McIntyre added that online fraud now accounts for half of reported crime in England and Wales. She urged people to check with trusted family and friends before transferring money and to verify any online booking with official sources.
