Vadodara Resident Accuses Travel agent of Fraudulent Visa scam
A resident of Ahmedabad, Ashish Patel, has filed a complaint with the sayajigunj police station, accusing a travel agent named Khushali Upadhyay of cheating him out of lakhs of rupees. Patel alleged that Upadhyay promised to arrange a trip to Luxembourg for him and his family, requesting a sum of Rs 9 lakh to facilitate the travel.
Patel, who was referred to Upadhyay by an acquaintance, met with her in May and agreed to the terms.after sending all the necessary documents, he was instructed to deposit Rs 4.50 lakh, which he paid in installments.
Upadhyay allegedly sent a job offer letter from a Luxembourg company,further convincing Patel of her legitimacy. In August, she issued appointment letters for Patel and his family’s visa process. Though, upon reaching Delhi, Patel discovered the appointment letters were fake.
Patel then attempted to schedule a visa appointment independently but was informed by authorities that he needed a letter from the company that offered him the job. when he requested this letter from Upadhyay, she avoided his inquiries. Suspecting foul play, Patel asked Upadhyay for proof of her agency’s legitimacy, but she remained unresponsive, leading him to involve the police.
## Interview with Ashish Patel – Victim of Alleged visa Scam
**Archyde News Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, mr. Patel. I understand you’ve recently filed a complaint against a travel agent for alleged fraud,is that correct?
**Ashish Patel:** That’s right.
**Archyde News Editor:** Can you tell us a little bit about what happened?
**Ashish Patel:** Certainly. I was looking to plan a trip to Luxembourg for myself and my family, and I was referred to a travel agent named Khushali Upadhyay by an acquaintance. We met in May and she promised to arrange everything for a total cost of rs 9 lakh.
**archyde News Editor:** And what happened after you agreed to her terms?
**ashish Patel:** I sent her all the necessary documents she requested. She then instructed me to deposit Rs 4.50 lakh, which I paid in installments. To make me feel cozy, she even sent a purported job offer letter from a Luxembourg company. This seemed legitimate at the time.
**Archyde News editor:** You mentioned a job offer letter. Did you believe you where going to Luxembourg for work?
**Ashish Patel:** Yes, that was the impression she gave me.though,after she issued appointment letters for my family’s visa process in August,things started to unravel. When we arrived in Delhi,we discovered the appointment letters were fake.
**Archyde news Editor:** That must have been a devastating realization. What was your reaction at that point?
**Ashish Patel:** I was shocked and furious. I tried to schedule a visa appointment on my own, but the authorities informed me I needed a letter from the company mentioned in the job offer, which was, of course, non-existent.
**Archyde News Editor:** What were your next steps?
**Ashish Patel:** I filed a complaint with the Sayajigunj police station. I hope they’ll thoroughly investigate this matter and bring Ms. Upadhyay to justice. She cheated me out of a significant sum of money and shattered my family’s travel dreams.
**Archyde News Editor:** Mr. Patel, thank you for sharing your story. We at Archyde News are committed to bringing such scams to light and holding those responsible accountable.
**Ashish Patel:** Thank you for giving me a platform to share my experience. I hope this will warn others and prevent them from falling prey to similar schemes.
## Archyde Exclusive: Vadodara Man Alleges Elaborate Visa Scam, Police Inquiry Underway
**archyde, Vadodara:** In a shocking case of alleged visa fraud, a Vadodara resident, Ashish Patel, has accused a travel agent named Khushali Upadhyay of duping him out of lakhs of rupees under the pretense of securing a lucrative job offer in Luxembourg.
Patel, speaking exclusively to Archyde, recounted the ordeal, saying, “I was initially referred to Ms. Upadhyay by a trusted acquaintance. She seemed very convincing and assured me she could get me and my family a job chance in Luxembourg. She demanded Rs. 9 lakh for the entire process.”
Trusting Upadhyay’s claims, Patel agreed to the terms and began sending the required documents. Subsequently, he deposited Rs 4.5 lakh, the initial installment, as instructed.
Upadhyay further bolstered Patel’s faith by sending a seemingly authentic job offer from a Luxembourg-based company. But the facade began to crumble when Patel and his family travelled to Delhi for their visa appointments, only to find the appointment letters were forged.
“I was devastated,” Patel revealed, his voice laced with frustration and disappointment. “She had assured me everything was in order. When I contacted Ms. Upadhyay to request a letter from the company confirming the job offer – a necessity for the visa process – she became evasive. Further requests for proof of her agency’s legitimacy were met with silence.”
Left with no other recourse, Patel decided to file a complaint at the Sayajigunj police station, accusing Upadhyay of opting for a “fraudulent scheme” to defraud him and his family of their hard-earned savings.
**Archyde reached out to Ms. Upadhyay for her side of the story, but she was unavailable for comment. The police investigation is currently underway.**
This case serves as a stark reminder for potential travelers to be vigilant and wary of fraudulent travel agents who prey on the aspirations of individuals seeking better opportunities abroad.
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