Umrah Trip Failure: Jambi Honorary Worker Loses Rp 116 Million in Suspected Travel Scam
The dream of Muhammad Sazli Rais (38), a resident of Tempino, Muaro Jambi, to perform Umrah worship with his wife and grandmother has been shattered after allegedly falling victim to an Umrah travel scam. His savings from working as an honorary staff member for 16 years have vanished.
Sazli became a victim of the alleged Umrah travel scam by Nur Risqon Hasana (NRH). He was supposed to depart with his wife, Endang (40), and grandmother, Umi Kalsum (68), using a full Umrah package for Ramadan 2026.
“I am sad; it was scheduled for a full month of Umrah during this year’s Ramadan with my wife and grandmother,” said Sazli to detikSumbagsel on Thursday (14/5/2026).
Sazli recounted that he learned about the Umrah travel agency from an online brochure of NRH Travel received via a short message from his wife’s friend. From the brochure, Sazli and his wife were interested because they had already intended to perform Umrah worship.
From there, Sazli began contacting the travel agency’s number. He then received offers for several Umrah packages until he decided to take the full 30-day Ramadan Umrah package.
“From that meeting, I paid a down payment of Rp 7 million. Then we settled everything. I have fully paid for three full Ramadan packages at Rp 35.9 million each, totalling Rp 116 million for three people. That was my savings since becoming an honorary worker in 2010,” said Sazli.
The hundreds of millions of rupiah paid by Sazli and his wife were savings from his 16 years as an honorary staff at the Jambi Provincial Agriculture Department, until recently changing status to part-time PPPK. Meanwhile, his wife is a primary school teacher in Muaro Jambi.
Since the initial meeting, Sazli had not suspected the Umrah travel agency. After full payment, he gradually received Umrah kits from the agency, including bags, ihram cloth, and other equipment.
Sazli, his wife, and grandmother were scheduled to depart on 14 February 2026. He had undergone manasik training and even held a communal prayer or walimatus safar, inviting neighbours and the village head on 4 February 2026.
“The communal prayer event was on 4 February 2026; the villagers already knew. Because of this incident, many are asking why we haven’t departed yet,” Sazli recounted sadly.
As the departure date approached, Sazli grew suspicious because the travel agency had not provided the Umrah visas. He and 226 other pilgrims, 80 percent from Jambi Province, inquired about this to the agency.
Finally, all pilgrims were gathered by NRH Travel on 15 February 2026 at a hotel in Jambi City. At that time, the agency claimed the departure was problematic because not all visas had been issued.
“The travel agency said the reason was that not all pilgrims’ visas had come out, only about 100 visas issued. So they said they would wait until all were complete,” he said.
After that meeting, the pilgrims received no further clarity. Finally, Sazli reported the alleged scam to Polda Jambi.
“I reported to Polda Jambi on 26 February 2026 because the director could no longer be contacted. There are several separate reports from some people,” he explained.
Since the issue arose, said Sazli, the NRH Travel office has been empty. He has visited the office multiple times and contacted the NRH Travel director but has received no certainty.
Furthermore, Sazli hopes that Polda Jambi can handle this case professionally to uncover the clarity of the alleged scam. The report is registered under number: LP/B/76/II/SPKT/Polda Jambi.
“Yes, the report is now stalled. We hope for clarity from Polda Jambi,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Public Relations of Polda Jambi, Kombes Erlan Munaji, confirmed the report. He said the report is being handled by investigators from the Ditreskrimum Polda Jambi.
“It is being handled by Criminal, several have been examined. We will check the update later,” said Erlan.