Umrah pilgrims warned of social media scams

Authorities and industry experts are warning against fraudulent Umrah tour advertisements circulating on social media. These deceptive posts often promise extremely low-cost packages—ranging from $200 to $300 including accommodation and meals—which lead to significant hardships for pilgrims.

Eyüp Özmiş of the Bab-ı Hayat firm reported from Medina that many of these operators are unregistered, unofficial entities. Travelers who fall victim to these scams often find themselves stranded in holy sites without access to promised services or medical assistance. Because these operators lack official legal status, victims frequently find they have no formal authority to turn to for complaints or legal recourse when services are not rendered.