A passenger who tried to help a stranded man at Navi Mumbai International Airport has allegedly lost ₹21,100 after transferring money for a flight ticket and extra baggage charges. The man reportedly claimed that his flight had been cancelled and that he could not book another ticket because the OTP for his joint bank account was going to his mother’s phone. However, when the passenger later contacted him to ask for his money back, the man allegedly promised to repay it within 30 minutes and then blocked him. The incident has sparked a discussion online about kindness, trust and the growing need to be careful while helping strangers in public places.
How the Incident Started at Navi Mumbai Airport
According to a report by News18, the incident took place around 5 am on October 6. The passenger later shared his experience on Reddit in a post titled “Navi Mumbai Airport Scam”.
The passenger said a young man approached him and asked whether he could speak English. The man reportedly explained that he was facing a problem with his flight and needed financial help to continue his journey.
According to the passenger, the man appeared genuine and explained his situation in a convincing manner. Since the incident happened at an airport, where passengers can face unexpected travel problems, the passenger decided to help him.
However, what initially appeared to be a simple act of kindness eventually turned into a troubling experience.
Why the Man Asked for ₹21,100
The man allegedly told the passenger that his flight had been cancelled and that he needed to book another ticket.
He reportedly showed the passenger that his bank account had around ₹40,000. However, he claimed that it was a joint account with his mother and that the OTP required to complete the payment was being sent to her mobile number.
According to his explanation, his mother was travelling on a flight and could not share the OTP with him. As a result, he claimed that he could not access the money needed to book another ticket.
Believing the explanation, the passenger transferred ₹13,600 to help him.
The situation did not end there. After the first transfer, the man allegedly contacted the passenger again and said he needed another ₹7,500 to pay excess baggage charges.
The passenger agreed to help once more and transferred the additional amount.
Together, the two payments came to ₹21,100.
Passenger Took Identity Documents Before Sending Money
The passenger reportedly took precautions before transferring the money. He said he photographed the man’s Aadhaar card and college identity card to record his details.
The college ID reportedly identified the man as Alluru Shyam Prasad, a BTech student at Parul University. However, the passenger said the Aadhaar details showed a birth year of 1991, raising questions about the information presented to him.
After making the transfers, the passenger went inside the airport because he was running late.
At that point, he apparently believed he had helped someone who was dealing with an unexpected travel emergency.
But collecting someone’s identity details does not necessarily guarantee that a transaction is safe. Documents may be misleading, and possessing a photograph of an ID card does not automatically ensure that the money can be recovered.
What Happened When the Passenger Asked for His Money Back?
The situation reportedly changed when the passenger contacted the man at around 4 pm to ask for repayment.
According to the Reddit post, the man said he would return the money within 30 minutes. However, instead of receiving the amount, the passenger was allegedly blocked.
The passenger then realised that he might have been cheated.
He said he had filed a cybercrime complaint but alleged that Koparkhairane Police Station refused to register his FIR. These are claims made by the passenger, and the details of the complaint and police response would need independent verification.
He also appealed to social media users to help identify the man and bring attention to the incident.
Despite what happened, the passenger reportedly said he still did not want to believe that the person he helped was a scammer.
He explained that he frequently helped people in need but that this experience had made him reconsider whether he should continue doing so.
Internet Users Debate Whether Helping Strangers Is Safe
The incident attracted attention on Reddit, where users shared different opinions about the passenger’s decision.
Some questioned why he transferred such a large amount of money to someone he had just met. They argued that a genuine traveller facing a financial emergency should be willing to accept help through safer methods.
Others advised people to offer assistance without handing over money directly.
For example, if someone at an airport says they cannot afford a flight ticket, a helpful passenger could approach the airline’s customer service desk with them. If the person genuinely needs another ticket, the airline can explain the available options.
Another suggestion was to contact airport security or the police if the situation appears suspicious.
Some users also expressed concern that incidents like these could discourage people from helping strangers in genuine emergencies.
That concern is understandable. India has many people who depend on the kindness of strangers during difficult situations. However, kindness and caution do not have to be opposites.
A Similar Airport Scam Was Reportedly Investigated Earlier
The passenger later shared a link to an earlier airport-related scam report published by IANS.
According to the report referenced by News18, police had previously arrested a man identified as Modela Venkata Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, over allegations that he cheated passengers at airports by posing as a student.
The passenger reportedly noticed similarities between the photograph associated with that case and the images he had seen on the identity documents shown to him.
However, a resemblance between photographs does not, by itself, establish that the individuals involved in the two cases are the same person. The connection would need confirmation from the authorities.
The earlier report has nevertheless added another dimension to the online discussion about people approaching travellers with convincing stories and requests for urgent financial assistance.
How Travellers Can Avoid Similar Scams at Indian Airports
Airports are busy places where passengers often face time pressure, flight delays, cancellations and unexpected expenses. These conditions can make it difficult to assess whether someone asking for help is telling the truth.
Travellers can reduce the risk of losing money by following a few practical steps.
1. Avoid transferring large amounts to strangers. Even if a person’s story sounds convincing, do not send thousands of rupees without independent verification.
2. Offer direct assistance instead. If someone needs a flight ticket, accompany them to the airline counter or direct them to the official customer service desk. Where appropriate, you can pay the airline directly after confirming the details rather than transferring money to an individual.
3. Verify the emergency independently. Ask which airline they are travelling with, check the booking details with the airline where possible, and avoid relying only on screenshots or verbal explanations.
4. Contact airport authorities. Airport security personnel, airline staff and police can help assess genuine emergencies and suspicious situations.
5. Preserve evidence if a payment has already been made. Keep UPI transaction IDs, bank statements, phone numbers, messages and screenshots. Report suspected financial fraud promptly through India’s cybercrime reporting helpline at 1930 or the official National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in. Also inform your bank or payment provider immediately.
Quick reporting can help authorities trace transactions, although recovering the money is not guaranteed.
Kindness Should Continue, but With Caution
The alleged ₹21,100 airport scam has highlighted a difficult question: should people stop helping strangers because some individuals may misuse their kindness?
The answer does not have to be yes. Helping someone in distress remains a valuable human gesture, but it is important to choose a safe way to provide that help.
A person who genuinely needs assistance may welcome support from airport staff, airline representatives or the police. Offering to help someone reach the right authority can be just as meaningful as giving them money.
For travellers, the most important lesson is simple: listen to people, remain compassionate and verify urgent requests before making financial transfers.
One unfortunate experience should not destroy trust in everyone. At the same time, kindness should never require people to ignore warning signs or put their own money at unnecessary risk.