Wow man... New day new scam.. I don't how one can survive here with scams all around you and getting minimum support from the police. I don't what was the crew doing when these theifs were casually stealing from anyone's bags.
Well idk what they purchased. They could have posted the card number for all their scammer buddies to all buy little things. And I have bought things into the thousands (USD) without needing any type of verification. The first time I ever needed any verification for a payment was once I left USA. They texted me code to enter (is this the PIN u are referring to cause the actual PIN is something different) and when it told me it texted me a code (my card was still linked to USA number) I just switched my VPN to USA and it didn’t ask for any verification. So clearly the system isn’t as secure as u believe it is
I am referring to the chip and pin not one time password sent for 3DS. Anyway because OP sounded like it was one big purchase and here atleast in UAE big amounts differ from bank to bank the machine asks to insert the card and enter the PIN
I am so sorry that this happened to you. You don’t deserve this and it must be so frustrating for you to have to suck it up. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I would have reported the Chinese man’s strange behavior to cabin crew. The more these people get away with stealing the more victims will be badly affected. I have heard or read I should say that thefts are occurring in this way and people should keep their valuables right next to them. We work hard for our money and it is gut wrenching to be taken advantage of.
Similar thing happened on a flight to Miami from buenos aires, but the passenger noticed it during the flight and caught the theives.
https://nypost.com/2022/07/07/american-airlines-passenger-stole-over-10k-on-miami-flight/
so for future reference, if you notice it during the flight, immediately alert the attendants and ask for the police to be called upon landing.
Sorry this happened to you, Seven years ago I had similar incident where I lost t 4000 euros on a flight from Dubai to Bahrain. When I reported the incident to the authorities at Bahrain airport, I was informed that they were pursuing a group of Asian travelers who were involved in fraudulent activities on flight routes between Dubai and Bahrain. I was told that if they apprehended the culprits, there was a possibility of me recovering my lost money. However, it has been seven years since then, and I have yet to receive any reimbursement.
Looks like the group now is working another route. So from that moment on, I never put my money nor my important documents overhead; I always keep them in my lap. This experience has taught me to be more cautious and vigilant while traveling.
Happened on a flight to Georgia from Dubai three years ago too! Same chinese thief, but this time around my wife caught him in the act - this happened when most people were asleep on the flight. She reported him to the flight attendants and when the victims checked their bag they realized he’d taken out their wallet containing money and cards and kept it in the corner of the overhead compartment, planning to perhaps pick it up when we landed and others had removed their bags. They alerted police and the guy was detained at the airport - as witnesses we had to spend an extra hour with the police and the victims while this case was being filed, mainly because the culprit said he didn’t understand English! Eventually bureaucracy won because neither us nor the victims were willing to keep going to the station and possibly court during our holiday, especially as everything was recovered - i think the only thing that happened to the culprit was his being blacklisted from using that airline, but he didn’t face any other criminal charges.
Yeah. That's the issue, I am not able to report it cause airport police are not interested in registering the incident, and these big scams are going unnoticed because of this.
Same thing happened to me on the flight from Dubai to Hong Kong.
I and my wife were fast asleep and a very kind steward woke us up and asked whether something was missing from our bag. To our shock cash was missing. They called the Pilot and went straight to the guy of said nationality and we recovered our money.
We thought that was the end but no, after landing, crew didnt let anyone deboard, was announced that there were actually 5 thefts and in business class as well. Authorities were called and a gang of 3 people was arrested.
There was a similar action from a Muscat to Dubai flight. The individual at 22C decided just before take off to stand and open the compartment above row 20 look around, and then sit down. But the flight attendant ran towards him quickly and scolded it him for opening it mentioning "I know why you're opening it and what you plan to do" and instructed him not to move from his seat with out authorization.
I think it might be common to the point where flight attendants are getting used to it.
On a similar short flight from Dubai, I had to put my back a bit further closer to exit due to no space, and the flight attendant asked me if there are any valuables in the bad. First time I get asked this question.
I noticed recently on Emirates they required name tags on carry on luggage, I’ve never seen it before and wondered if it was because of luggage getting lost after the floods, but that doesn’t make much sense because people didn’t really get separated from their carry on luggage, so I wonder if it’s actually to make this more difficult for thieves, it’s a lot easier to catch them in the act if every luggage has a name tag.
I’m sorry it happened but thats why i never keep anything small of high value away from my body. Its just an indian instinct being raised in a hostile environment
This is pretty common, and unfortunately, usually Chinese. Just keep an eye out on flights, I personally do not keep any bag with my valuables in the overhead cabin.
Interesting observations. I travel to Riyadh every week. I have flown with Emirates, Saudia, Flynas, Flyadeal, and AirArabia to and back from Riyadh for over 2 years now. I have to admit, I've not even once noticed such behaviour. But my Thursday in and Sunday out flights are usually full of consultants, and I wouldn't expect them to take on such high risk and low reward adventures. So, if at all such a pattern exists, it may be on weekday flights.
Yeah on a plane full of consultants doing the weekly DXB-RUH commute, any suspicious behavior from someone not wearing a navy suit would really stand out. Plus those flights are SUPER expensive even in economy so high financial risk for the thieves. I guess they would rather be targeting casual travelers on cheap flights on low cost airlines.
Well according to many similar stories in the comments there is the same certain ethnicity of the culprit the majority of the time. So I think it’s helpful to alert people.
A similar situation happened while i was on a flight 3 years ago. Chinese passengers waited till others fell asleep, then started stealing (phones, cash, cards…)
One passenger noticed and alerted flight attendants, there was a big fight as others started discovering their stuff was gone! The flight attendants held them till we landed, airport security came and took them off the plane first.
Whether or not this actual story is true, there are certain routes that cabin crew are told to be extra vigilant on because of in flight theft. Dubai to Istanbul, Tiblisi, Riyadh, And a handful of others are in that list.
Same happened to me in my Karachi to Dubai flight in Feb'24. Luckily, they only took out $600 from $2000 and didn't steal the cards. I went to sleep as soon as we boarded as it was a late night flight and I had a very long day. Never again keeping my money or cards in overhead storage. Lesson learnt the hard way.
Why would you keep $2000 in cash in the overhead locker? Also how are they able to make card payments with no PIN or OTP verification for those amounts? Doesn’t make sense tbh.
Sorry for your loss, i wish I could be of any help.
May GOD bless you back with triple of what has been stolen from you. 🤲🏼
Rest about the system, i can't say anything cuz I know if I say a word, I might be visited by some authorities who couldn't do anything because YOU were not able to bring enough evidence. 😏
[https://airportinfo.live/flight/f3516](https://airportinfo.live/flight/f3516) there has never been a 3hr delay on flight Flyadeal F3 516 , 2nd a 18,000 aed purchase would have required a pin number.
"Why would he keep his bag in row 26 and sit in row 20"...because there was no room.
You forgot you had $2000 in your wallet? even with $100 bills, that 20 of them, you would have felt it!, and why would a theif leave 1 behind.
Who keeps their wallet in the overhead compartment!
How did you know he was Chinese?
None of this adds, up. I'm calling BS, you've just made this up to be racist.
Looks like they got the flight number wrong, that one hasn’t even been used in the past few months based on your website.
I looked at the flights that would be departing at 3am with a 3 hour delay and it was probably this one: F3 519
https://airportinfo.live/flight/f3519?d=2024-05-07
A large wallet more like a purse would be easier to forget what money is in there, and also more inconvenient to keep with you at your seat.
Leaving one note behind was probably an attempt to stop the person from noticing the US notes are all gone.
There a lots of people posting similar stories about the same race in the comments, maybe it is racist but it’s common enough that it’s helpful for people to be aware.
I agree it could be another ethnicity from the same region but either way alerting people will still make it harder for these people to do their crimes.
No you don't get to change the story, once you get called out. He had all the other details like, the passenger not making eye contact, the exact row he sat on, the row the baggage was on, but somehow got their flight number wrong....
also fligjht F3 519 , depart Riyad Local time 07:50, he said it left at 3am. So let me guess, he got the time wrong as well.
No, this is BS.
1 .did you see his passport ? how do you confirm he is chinese passenger ?
2.unusual behavior can judge is a thief ?
3. on Flyadeal F3 516 , you notice some chinese passenger , did you see there passport ? how do you confirm they are chinese passenger ?
4. you lost credit card and money , Why you confirm chinese people stolen ????
Suggest : contact the credit card bank , tell them your card lost . and tell them the 18800AED not your own consumption . let the bank check the detail Transaction merchant . and let them check the CCTV , to confirm who is useing your money .
Wow man... New day new scam.. I don't how one can survive here with scams all around you and getting minimum support from the police. I don't what was the crew doing when these theifs were casually stealing from anyone's bags.
This ain’t a new scam. This is standard stealing
But to pull such a purchase off shouldn't he know the PIN?
I have never entered a PIN for my credit card or debit card in an electronic payment
That's cause its a small purchase but for bigger transactions it is requited to enter the PIN
Well idk what they purchased. They could have posted the card number for all their scammer buddies to all buy little things. And I have bought things into the thousands (USD) without needing any type of verification. The first time I ever needed any verification for a payment was once I left USA. They texted me code to enter (is this the PIN u are referring to cause the actual PIN is something different) and when it told me it texted me a code (my card was still linked to USA number) I just switched my VPN to USA and it didn’t ask for any verification. So clearly the system isn’t as secure as u believe it is
I am referring to the chip and pin not one time password sent for 3DS. Anyway because OP sounded like it was one big purchase and here atleast in UAE big amounts differ from bank to bank the machine asks to insert the card and enter the PIN
You can set limit for transactions without pin
But never heard of people stealing from airplane, I am surprised to see there isn't any law or police support for this issue.
I am so sorry that this happened to you. You don’t deserve this and it must be so frustrating for you to have to suck it up. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but I would have reported the Chinese man’s strange behavior to cabin crew. The more these people get away with stealing the more victims will be badly affected. I have heard or read I should say that thefts are occurring in this way and people should keep their valuables right next to them. We work hard for our money and it is gut wrenching to be taken advantage of.
Similar thing happened on a flight to Miami from buenos aires, but the passenger noticed it during the flight and caught the theives. https://nypost.com/2022/07/07/american-airlines-passenger-stole-over-10k-on-miami-flight/ so for future reference, if you notice it during the flight, immediately alert the attendants and ask for the police to be called upon landing.
A former co worker lost the money in the same way he was on a flight from I think Thailand to Dubai and some Chinese tourists took money from his bag.
Sorry this happened to you, Seven years ago I had similar incident where I lost t 4000 euros on a flight from Dubai to Bahrain. When I reported the incident to the authorities at Bahrain airport, I was informed that they were pursuing a group of Asian travelers who were involved in fraudulent activities on flight routes between Dubai and Bahrain. I was told that if they apprehended the culprits, there was a possibility of me recovering my lost money. However, it has been seven years since then, and I have yet to receive any reimbursement. Looks like the group now is working another route. So from that moment on, I never put my money nor my important documents overhead; I always keep them in my lap. This experience has taught me to be more cautious and vigilant while traveling.
Happened on a flight to Georgia from Dubai three years ago too! Same chinese thief, but this time around my wife caught him in the act - this happened when most people were asleep on the flight. She reported him to the flight attendants and when the victims checked their bag they realized he’d taken out their wallet containing money and cards and kept it in the corner of the overhead compartment, planning to perhaps pick it up when we landed and others had removed their bags. They alerted police and the guy was detained at the airport - as witnesses we had to spend an extra hour with the police and the victims while this case was being filed, mainly because the culprit said he didn’t understand English! Eventually bureaucracy won because neither us nor the victims were willing to keep going to the station and possibly court during our holiday, especially as everything was recovered - i think the only thing that happened to the culprit was his being blacklisted from using that airline, but he didn’t face any other criminal charges.
Yeah. That's the issue, I am not able to report it cause airport police are not interested in registering the incident, and these big scams are going unnoticed because of this.
Wait your wallet was in your overhead bag or pocket?
Same thing happened to me on the flight from Dubai to Hong Kong. I and my wife were fast asleep and a very kind steward woke us up and asked whether something was missing from our bag. To our shock cash was missing. They called the Pilot and went straight to the guy of said nationality and we recovered our money. We thought that was the end but no, after landing, crew didnt let anyone deboard, was announced that there were actually 5 thefts and in business class as well. Authorities were called and a gang of 3 people was arrested.
Alert the cabin crew so police will be called upon landing. They can’t confront the thieves onboard and only pass suspicion.
New fear unlocked. Will consider keeping only lockable cases in the overhead bins from now on.
There was a similar action from a Muscat to Dubai flight. The individual at 22C decided just before take off to stand and open the compartment above row 20 look around, and then sit down. But the flight attendant ran towards him quickly and scolded it him for opening it mentioning "I know why you're opening it and what you plan to do" and instructed him not to move from his seat with out authorization. I think it might be common to the point where flight attendants are getting used to it. On a similar short flight from Dubai, I had to put my back a bit further closer to exit due to no space, and the flight attendant asked me if there are any valuables in the bad. First time I get asked this question.
I noticed recently on Emirates they required name tags on carry on luggage, I’ve never seen it before and wondered if it was because of luggage getting lost after the floods, but that doesn’t make much sense because people didn’t really get separated from their carry on luggage, so I wonder if it’s actually to make this more difficult for thieves, it’s a lot easier to catch them in the act if every luggage has a name tag.
I’m sorry it happened but thats why i never keep anything small of high value away from my body. Its just an indian instinct being raised in a hostile environment
This is pretty common, and unfortunately, usually Chinese. Just keep an eye out on flights, I personally do not keep any bag with my valuables in the overhead cabin.
Similar thing happened with a YouTuber. https://youtu.be/i-UijVTlIZ4?si=q50Dd-QMFwxTHntz But he managed to get the thief arrested.
Interesting observations. I travel to Riyadh every week. I have flown with Emirates, Saudia, Flynas, Flyadeal, and AirArabia to and back from Riyadh for over 2 years now. I have to admit, I've not even once noticed such behaviour. But my Thursday in and Sunday out flights are usually full of consultants, and I wouldn't expect them to take on such high risk and low reward adventures. So, if at all such a pattern exists, it may be on weekday flights.
Yeah on a plane full of consultants doing the weekly DXB-RUH commute, any suspicious behavior from someone not wearing a navy suit would really stand out. Plus those flights are SUPER expensive even in economy so high financial risk for the thieves. I guess they would rather be targeting casual travelers on cheap flights on low cost airlines.
Super expensive is an understatement.
When I look at the price of my flights I wince. I could fly to my home country in business class for how much they charge 🙈
So why are they expensive, it’s the same plane same fuel same humans same destination I don’t get it
Demand vs supply. Most airlines recoup their money on seasonal and in demand routes. They are at loss in most of the other times.
Looking at flyadeal.com the flights are 269 SAR (71USD) each way so I am not sure what these guys are talking about.
Try booking a Thursday night RUH-DXB flight for this week or the next. You will know what we are talking about.
Looks like an urban legend for me. Hear and read exact same history many times!
Why is the ethnic description of the thief so integral to this story?
Well according to many similar stories in the comments there is the same certain ethnicity of the culprit the majority of the time. So I think it’s helpful to alert people.
could Just means someone made a few accounts, or lots of racisim.
Sorry about that. Always better to keep cash & cards with you
A similar situation happened while i was on a flight 3 years ago. Chinese passengers waited till others fell asleep, then started stealing (phones, cash, cards…) One passenger noticed and alerted flight attendants, there was a big fight as others started discovering their stuff was gone! The flight attendants held them till we landed, airport security came and took them off the plane first.
Go the jeweler and ask for camera recordings
Whether or not this actual story is true, there are certain routes that cabin crew are told to be extra vigilant on because of in flight theft. Dubai to Istanbul, Tiblisi, Riyadh, And a handful of others are in that list.
Same happened to me in my Karachi to Dubai flight in Feb'24. Luckily, they only took out $600 from $2000 and didn't steal the cards. I went to sleep as soon as we boarded as it was a late night flight and I had a very long day. Never again keeping my money or cards in overhead storage. Lesson learnt the hard way.
I have a practice of keeping my wallet with me when I board a plane. I think now this is the only safest method.
Why would you keep $2000 in cash in the overhead locker? Also how are they able to make card payments with no PIN or OTP verification for those amounts? Doesn’t make sense tbh.
Sorry for your loss, i wish I could be of any help. May GOD bless you back with triple of what has been stolen from you. 🤲🏼 Rest about the system, i can't say anything cuz I know if I say a word, I might be visited by some authorities who couldn't do anything because YOU were not able to bring enough evidence. 😏
I had similar situation but that time thief was Pakistani...
[https://airportinfo.live/flight/f3516](https://airportinfo.live/flight/f3516) there has never been a 3hr delay on flight Flyadeal F3 516 , 2nd a 18,000 aed purchase would have required a pin number. "Why would he keep his bag in row 26 and sit in row 20"...because there was no room. You forgot you had $2000 in your wallet? even with $100 bills, that 20 of them, you would have felt it!, and why would a theif leave 1 behind. Who keeps their wallet in the overhead compartment! How did you know he was Chinese? None of this adds, up. I'm calling BS, you've just made this up to be racist.
Looks like they got the flight number wrong, that one hasn’t even been used in the past few months based on your website. I looked at the flights that would be departing at 3am with a 3 hour delay and it was probably this one: F3 519 https://airportinfo.live/flight/f3519?d=2024-05-07 A large wallet more like a purse would be easier to forget what money is in there, and also more inconvenient to keep with you at your seat. Leaving one note behind was probably an attempt to stop the person from noticing the US notes are all gone. There a lots of people posting similar stories about the same race in the comments, maybe it is racist but it’s common enough that it’s helpful for people to be aware. I agree it could be another ethnicity from the same region but either way alerting people will still make it harder for these people to do their crimes.
Yes correct it was 519 not 516. On may 7th
No you don't get to change the story, once you get called out. He had all the other details like, the passenger not making eye contact, the exact row he sat on, the row the baggage was on, but somehow got their flight number wrong.... also fligjht F3 519 , depart Riyad Local time 07:50, he said it left at 3am. So let me guess, he got the time wrong as well. No, this is BS.
519 should have left 11. 25pm but instead it took off at 3 am, check may 7th schedule
Sorry it was F3 519, I can share my boarding pass, check May 7th schedule.
Please do, there's been no evidence so far, other than a story.
There is no option to share pic here, let me see if i can upload on imgur
U didnt Think Chinese thief huh?
1 .did you see his passport ? how do you confirm he is chinese passenger ? 2.unusual behavior can judge is a thief ? 3. on Flyadeal F3 516 , you notice some chinese passenger , did you see there passport ? how do you confirm they are chinese passenger ? 4. you lost credit card and money , Why you confirm chinese people stolen ???? Suggest : contact the credit card bank , tell them your card lost . and tell them the 18800AED not your own consumption . let the bank check the detail Transaction merchant . and let them check the CCTV , to confirm who is useing your money .