Discover the full story behind the Flight Expert Scam 2025. Learn how Bangladesh’s top online travel agency collapsed overnight, what led to the fraud, and how travelers can protect themselves moving forward.
Introduction
Once a symbol of trust and innovation in Bangladesh’s travel industry, Flight Expert shocked the nation in 2025 by collapsing under the weight of a massive fraud scandal. Customers lost millions. Executives vanished. Authorities rushed to contain the damage. What really happened? And what lessons should travelers learn?
In this article, we unpack the Flight Expert Scam 2025—from its rise and fall to legal fallout, customer loss, and how you can protect your hard-earned money from similar disasters.
How Flight Expert Rose to Fame
Founded in 2017, Flight Expert revolutionized air travel booking in Bangladesh. With easy EMI payments, Hajj packages, and flight deals, it quickly became a favorite among:
- Students studying abroad
- Families planning vacations
- Agencies reselling tickets (B2B)
By 2023, the brand had over 500,000 customers and partnerships with major airlines, travel agents, and influencers.
Red Flags Before the Collapse
By early 2025, things started to feel off:
- Refunds were delayed for months
- Customers complained of “fake PNRs”
- Travel agents noticed missing commissions
- The website often showed maintenance errors
Still, Flight Expert continued to accept payments worth crores of taka.
The Collapse (August 2025)
August 2, 2025 — Flight Expert’s website suddenly shut down.
Thousands of customers couldn’t reach support. Social media exploded with #FlightExpertScam. Within hours:
- Offices were abandoned
- Phone lines went dead
- Influencers and agents confirmed: “We’ve been scammed”
Legal Fallout: Executives Arrested, MD Escapes
Following police complaints, three top executives were arrested:
- Sakib Hossain (Finance Head)
- Sayeed Ahmed (CCO)
- Sadat Hossain (COO)
The Managing Director, Salman Bin Rashid, fled the country. Reports suggest he moved to Canada, leaving thousands of victims behind.
An estimated Tk 50+ crore is still unrecovered.
What the Court Cases Reveal
The legal charges include:
- Breach of trust (Section 406)
- Criminal breach of contract
- Fraud under Bangladesh Penal Code
- Violations under the Consumer Rights Protection Act
Authorities seized company assets, froze bank accounts, and began investigating possible money laundering.
Flight Expert Fraud Bangladesh: Timeline, Victims, and Refund Process
Timeline of the Flight Expert Scam
🚩 July 2025 – Warning Signs Emerge
Customers began reporting delays in ticket confirmations, missing PNRs, and no-show support staff. Social media complaints increased daily.
🚨 August 2, 2025 – The Website Disappears
FlightExpert.com and its support numbers went offline overnight. Panic spread. Agents, students, families—everyone tried to get answers.
👮 August 3–5, 2025 – Legal Action Begins
Police filed fraud cases against five executives. News reports confirmed three officials were arrested, while MD Salman Bin Rashid reportedly fled to Canada.
🧾 Mid-August – Government & ATAB Involved
The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) revoked Flight Expert’s membership. Authorities froze bank accounts and seized records.
👥 Who Were the Victims?
This fraud affected a wide range of people:
- 🎓 Students: Lost airline tickets worth BDT 20,000–50,000
- 🧕 Hajj/Umrah Clients: Canceled pilgrimages after paying deposits
- 💼 Travel Agencies: Some lost BDT 2–10 lakh in unpaid commissions
- 🧳 Families: Missed vacation flights, lost hotel bookings
Many of these victims had made advance payments—with little documentation or refunds in sight. Victims came from all walks of life:
| Group | Average Loss |
| Students | BDT 25,000–50,000 |
| Travel Agents | BDT 2–10 lakh |
| Hajj/Umrah Clients | BDT 2–5 lakh |
| Corporate Clients | BDT 5–50 lakh |
Real people lost their education journeys, honeymoon plans, and savings.
One agency owner told media:
“I trusted them with over Tk 3 lakh worth of bookings. I got nothing back.”
What About Refunds?
Unfortunately, the refund process is complex and still in progress.
What You Can Do:
- File a GD (General Diary) with your local police station.
- Submit complaints to the Ministry of Commerce and ATAB.
- Attach evidence: payment receipts, PNR emails, messages, etc.
- Join Facebook groups of other victims for updates on group lawsuits.
- Monitor news for court updates and refund disbursement news.
As of now, no structured refund program has been announced by the company or court.
Social Media Outrage & Whistleblowers
Employees exposed internal messages showing:
- “Fake ticket systems”
- Diversion of customer funds to pay old refunds
- Pressure to lie to clients over chat/email
One insider said:
“We were told to delay, distract, and never refund.”
Expert Analysis: How Could This Happen?
1. No Escrow Accounts
Flight Expert kept customer money in operational bank accounts—with no regulatory escrow protections.
2. Weak Oversight
No real-time audits. No tracking of ticket validity. The perfect storm for fraud.
3. Blind Trust in Branding
Because of their media presence, customers assumed legitimacy—even when problems appeared.
What This Means for Bangladesh’s Travel Industry
- Loss of trust in online booking
- Small agencies shifting to direct airline APIs
- Airlines strengthening partner verification
- Customers becoming more cautious
ATAB (Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh) now recommends escrow payments and strict license renewals.
How to Protect Yourself When Booking Travel
1. Always ask for airline-issued PNRs
Check directly on airline websites.
2. Use credit cards or secure apps
Avoid full cash payments unless it’s a trusted agent.
3. Verify agency licenses
Check if they are IATA-accredited or listed under ATAB.
4. Read reviews beyond Facebook
Use Trustpilot, Google, Reddit, and forums.
Recommended Tools for Safe Booking
Here are some tools to book your next trip securely:
- ✈️ Skyscanner – Trusted global platform
- 🛡️ Travel Guard Insurance – Cover flight cancellations
- 💳 Wise Card – Use for secure international payments
Flight Expert News at a Glance
- Flight Expert vanishes overnight, leaving customers stranded and funds missing
Flight Expert abruptly shut down its website and customer service, sparking panic among thousands of clients and travel agents across Bangladesh.bdnews24.com+7Gulf News+7daily-sun+7 - 3 key executives arrested as owner flees the country
Police have detained Flight Expert’s head of finance (Sakib Hossain), chief commercial officer (Sayeed Ahmed), and COO (AKM Sadat Hossain), following a fraud complaint involving nearly Tk 40 million. Meanwhile, the Managing Director, Salman Bin Rashid Shah Sayeem, reportedly fled to Canada.daily-sun+6Dhaka Tribune+6The Daily Star+6 - ATAB cancels Flight Expert’s membership
The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) has officially revoked Flight Expert’s membership. An emergency meeting led to recommendations to freeze refunds and alert banks to halt excessive discount campaigns.The Daily Star+7BSS+7daily-sun+7 - Court sends three officials to jail
A Dhaka court ordered the three arrested officials to remain in custody while investigations continue into allegations of embezzlement and consumer fraud.The Daily Star+5daily-sun+5The Daily Star+5 - Thousands left exposed, agencies in turmoil
Travel agencies across the country report significant financial losses, with clients facing canceled plans and no access to refunds.The Daily Star+7The Daily Star+7daily-sun+7
Summary Table
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Flight Expert completely shut down?
Yes. The website and support are down. Legal cases are ongoing.
2. How do I know if I’ve been scammed?
If you didn’t receive valid airline tickets or refunds, you may be a victim.
3. Can I still get my money back?
Possible—through court settlements or government recovery. File an official complaint.
4. Who was the owner of Flight Expert?
Salman Bin Rashid. He reportedly fled to Canada in early August 2025.
5. What’s the best way to book flights safely?
Use trusted apps like Skyscanner or book directly from airline websites.
Conclusion
The Flight Expert Scam 2025 is more than a business collapse—it’s a lesson in consumer awareness. No matter how shiny a company looks, your money is safest when YOU verify everything.
Travel smart. Book safe. And don’t trust blindly.
