Pressured into a travel deal? You’re not alone

A man in Bengaluru has been awarded a full refund after a travel agency convinced him to sign up for a pricey membership using a classic “lucky draw” scam.

It started with a lucky draw

Hafeez Pasha had simply entered a prize draw at RMZ Galleria Mall – he was told he’d won some freebies: movie tickets, a silver coin, and a complimentary travel package. But when he and his wife went to collect them, things took a turn.

Instead of the prizes, they were hit with a high-pressure sales pitch. The company – Fala Holiday Packages – told them they had to sign up for a ₹1.5 lakh holiday plan right away, or miss out on the deal.

They gave in and paid. But when Pasha tried to book one of the promised trips, the agency refused. That’s when he decided to take action.

Court says: refund the full amount

Fala didn’t respond to his complaint – or even show up in court. But the consumer commission didn’t let that stop them. They ruled in Pasha’s favour and ordered the agency to:

• Refund the full ₹1.5 lakh

• Pay 10% annual interest

• Pay ₹25,000 in compensation

• Cover his legal costs

• Contribute ₹10,000 to the Consumer Welfare Fund

A strong result – and a warning to other companies using the same tactics.

These scams are all too common

These “you’ve won a prize” tactics aren’t new – and they’re not rare. It’s common for companies to use lucky draws in shopping centres or petrol stations to lure people in, only to switch to hard-selling expensive travel or holiday plans.

If you’ve experienced something similar, you could be entitled to a refund too. And you don’t have to let it go – you can take your case to the District Consumer Commission.