The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has received reports that Askoi Travel Servies accepted payments from individuals intending to perform Umrah but failed to facilitate the pilgrimage as scheduled.

Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed took to his official X account to state that Askoi had charged people for Umrah trips but did not depart on the agreed date. He said the matter will be reported to the Maldives Police Service and that action will be taken in accordance with the law.

Several individuals have shared on social media that they paid money to the company and were informed at the last minute that their trips had been cancelled. They also claimed that Askoi later stopped answering calls and switched off its phones.

Askoi Travel Services, a private Hajj and Umrah operator, has previously faced similar allegations of defrauding clients by taking payments without delivering the promised services.