Fraudsters caught in Andijan and Tashkent for scamming people over Hajj and Umrah

Authorities in Andijan region and Tashkent city have uncovered individuals who defrauded people by promising to send them on Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages and then embezzling their funds, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.

In Andijan, a man born in 1986 was detained during an operation by the Internal Affairs Department. He charged \$5,000 per pilgrim through a “Tourist Firm” to send citizens to the 2025 Hajj. He was caught accepting \$6,000 as part of a fraudulent \$15,000 payment to send three relatives to Hajj. A criminal case was initiated under Article 168, Part 4, Clause “a” (fraud).

In Tashkent, a woman born in 1997 was caught receiving \$14,550—chemically treated money—in Sergeli district. She demanded \$4,850 per person for Hajj and Umrah services for herself and two acquaintances.

Additionally, complaints revealed that the director of “KAVSAR TRAVEL” LLC, based in Yakkasaroy district, paid only \$850 to a hotel in Medina for citizens sent for Umrah and has not returned the money. The director also collected \$42,625 for airline tickets from 70 citizens for Umrah but has yet to refund the money. Investigations showed that 101 citizens suffered losses from this company. The director is in custody, and a criminal case under Part 4, Clauses “a” and “b” of Article 168 has been opened.

Earlier, in Mirabad district, a man was detained after receiving \$27,200 from four people promising to send them on Hajj.