Actor Rayya Labib cheated by Thrillophilia under the guise of “helicopter rides”

MUMBAI: After we published veteran actor Poonam Dasgupta’s experience with TravelTech platform Thrillophilia on Tuesday and the post went viral on social media, we received inputs from at least two Thrillophilia customers who claimed they were conned by the company in the guise of booking helicopter rides.

The first was actor Rayya Labib who immediately informed us that a family member had faced a similar experience.

Actor Rayya Labib’s family friend was cheated of Rs 30,000/- (Rupees Thirty Thousand) by Thrillophilia, which is an online company dealing in ticket and hotel bookings, organizing tours, staycations, selling activities and experiences.

According to Rayya who spoke to this reporter on Wednesday, the incident happened in December last year. “My office is after them for the refund, but they are only giving new dates each time. My family friend and a relative wanted to go for a helicopter ride and accordingly they booked online and made the payment. When they reached the location, they realized that helicopter rides were suspended much earlier,” Rayya said.

Yesteryear’s popular actress, Poonam Dasgupta also had a similar incident with Thrillophilia. She went with her husband and son to Manali towards the end of last year to celebrate New Year’s eve.

Amongst other activities for her 9-year-old son, Poonam booked a helicopter ride through Thrillophilia. The company took Poonam’s booking and the entire amount in advance for the helicopter ride, but on reaching the venue realized that there were no helicopter rides.

Hundreds of phone calls and emails by Poonam’s husband have not yet borne fruit. Thrillophilia execs only keep giving dates. The reply is always the same, “you will get the refund within 7-8 days,” says Poonam’s husband.

An infuriated and frustrated Poonam says they are nothing but a scam or con company.

According to Poonam, “If Thrillophilia has the audacity to try to con or dupe me, I shudder to think how Thrillophilia must be duping the common man. They have to be exposed.”

When in Manali, Poonam’s husband was warned by an activity organizing company in Manali who booked their activities on the ropeway and hot-air balloon that Thrillophilia has a rotten reputation about not making refunds and is a fly-by-night operator.

The fact that Thrillophilia took a booking for an activity which was discontinued clearly establishes ill intent of Thrillophilia and now not giving Poonam the refund proves beyond doubt that Thrillophilia is a notorious company duping travelers by charging them in advance for non-existent services and then not making refunds.

Rayya Labib has already handed over the matter to her lawyers who are in the process of filing a police complaint for cheating u/s 420 of the Indian Penal code against Thrillophilia with the Mumbai police.

“Everyone in Manali told my relative never to book with Thrillophilia as they are rogues and cheats and never make refunds. But, I decided to give them some time and waited for the refund, but now it seems too late,” Rayya said.

Attempts to contact Thrillophilia were futile as they did not respond to our queries and requests for comment. We will update this post as and when they respond to us.