Umrah Fraud in Bangladesh: How to Avoid It
Most Umrah fraud follows a pattern: a price well below the market, cash paid to an individual, no hotel names, and the passport held without a receipt. Avoid it by dealing only with a licensed agency, paying into a company account against receipts, getting hotel names and the refund policy in writing, and checking your visa yourself before you fly.
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Common patterns
- The vanishing agent: an individual collects cash from a neighbourhood group and disappears before the flight.
- The last-minute fee: days before departure, a "visa problem" or "hotel change" needs more money.
- The far-away hotel: "near Haram" turns out to be a long shuttle ride away.
- The held passport: passports are kept without a receipt and returned late or not at all.
How to protect yourself
- Check the agency's licence on the ministry list.
- Pay only into a company bank account or traceable channel, and keep every receipt.
- Get the hotel names, distances, flight details and refund policy in writing.
- When your e-visa is issued, ask for the PDF and check your name and passport number on it.
- Keep photocopies of your passport and receipts at home.
If you have been cheated
Collect your receipts, messages and the agency's details, and report it to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, HAAB (if the agency is a member) and the police. Act quickly; the closer to the season, the harder it is to recover a booking.