Russian travel firm Reset Trip scammed clients out of thousands of dollars over a canceled South Africa tour and refused refunds

16 March 2026 , 06:18

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Russian travel firm Reset Trip scammed clients out of thousands of dollars over a canceled South Africa tour and refused refunds

A travel company refused to refund Moscow women for a trip to South Africa canceled due to the war in Iran.

In January, Inna purchased a 10-day tour (March 7–16) to South Africa from RESET TRIP for €4,500. She paid a deposit of 255,000 rubles and was supposed to pay the remaining amount in cash upon arrival in Cape Town, she told Ostorozhno, Novosti.

On the company’s advice, the Muscovite bought her own ticket with a layover in Dubai. However, due to the escalation in the Middle East and attacks on the UAE, she returned it. Other tourists who had tickets via Qatar had their flights canceled, Inna said.

The tour operator предложила the women fly via Ethiopia instead, but with an additional payment of 200,000 rubles for the ticket. They refused and demanded a refund of the deposit. Under the contract, RESET TRIP could deduct only part of its organizational expenses. The next day, Inna received a letter stating that no refund would be issued because the company had allegedly already spent 311,000 rubles on her — more than she had paid — and attached a report on organizing the canceled safari and meals.

“They sent us a statement without any supporting documents, claiming we still owed the agent money. We asked for proof of expenses, but they haven’t provided anything for a week,” Inna said.

Immediately afterward, according to her, RESET TRIP representatives removed the three tourists from the group chat and blocked them. The women plan to file a collective lawsuit in court.

Thomas Brown

Head of Investigations