Ibrahim Al-Twairqi Okaz newspaper EVERY year we hear and read in newspapers about fraudsters who manage to trick local pilgrims into paying them money in exchange for providing them with Haj services. The modus operandi is almost always similar: A fraudster comes along and puts up a sign reading “Local Haj and Umrah Services” above an office which is usually opened on a major street. The fraudster selects his staff carefully and makes them dress in a manner that shows that they are pious, God fearing people. Citizens and expatriates alike flock to the office and pay money to the fraudster who is supposed to take them for Haj. When the time to depart for the pilgrimage approaches, however, the pilgrims gather at a place the fraudster had specified. They eagerly wait for the buses that are supposed to take them to Makkah or the airport. After waiting for long hours, they realize that no bus is coming for them and there is no trace of staff from the Haj service office. Angry, they go to the office but find it closed. They gather there and start to protest. Police arrive at the scene and begin questioning them about the protest. They tell the officers that they have been conned out of their money by the owner of the Haj service office. They are told to lodge a complaint with their local police station. The Ministry of Haj forms a committee to find out what happened. And the disappointed pilgrims continue their unending wait for the results of this investigation. The next year, we hear the same story again. Fraudsters take advantage of the high demand for domestic Haj services and con prospective pilgrims out of their money on a regular basis. The question that poses itself is: What has the ministry done to put an end to this phenomenon? Why has the ministry failed to prevent fake Haj offices from conning people out of their hard-earned money?
