Helicopter Rescue Fraud in Nepal near Everest

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Messages 1 - 10 of total 10 in this topic

jfr

Mountain climber

32N 117W

Topic Author's Original Post - Jan 25, 2019 - 07:43pm PT

Looks like a few scammer mountain guides may be getting kickbacks from helicopter rescue companies with money from insurance companies.

http://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/world/asia/nepal-everest-insurers-fraud.html

"The guides preyed on trekkers when they were most vulnerable — trudging up remote trails, cold, wet, sick, confused and miles from any well-serviced towns.

The Nepali government found evidence that some guides went as far as intentionally making hikers ill by spiking their food with large amounts of baking soda, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other ailments, and then calling for an emergency helicopter evacuation."

ecdh

climber

the east

Jan 25, 2019 - 08:00pm PT

more than a few guides by the looks of it, the article states an entire systemic industry.

having been to nepal a few times none of this surprises me. the landscape of corruption, economic disparity, foreign influence, ethnic tension, industrial collusion and exploitation is just perfect for insurance companies to be embroiled in.

i have no idea who to empathize with here, tho its probably not the insurance companies.

originalpmac

Mountain climber

Timbers of Fennario

Jan 25, 2019 - 08:01pm PT

Daaang, that's cold blooded.

Chaz

Trad climber

Straight Outta Crafton

Jan 25, 2019 - 08:04pm PT

...some guides went as far as intentionally making hikers ill by spiking their food with large amounts of baking soda, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other ailments

Yeah, but nobody complained about heartburn.

bchains

Trad climber

Bay Area, CA

Jan 26, 2019 - 03:44pm PT

You don't need baking soda to get sick... just drink quasi treated water out of the Dudh Koshi river on the trek up to basecamp. Or buy the bottled water from the locals at the tea houses which is just river water. Guaranteed shits/vomiting for 1-2 days. Hello helo evac!

JLP

Social climber

The internet

Jan 26, 2019 - 03:57pm PT

Fleecing and robbing the carpet baggers is a centuries old, world-wide tradition.

It's the easy money of insurance settlements. The abuse is universal.

Common around here are roof inspections. Get a free roof, right after they tear some shingles off for the adjuster to see. Body shops inflating their estimates, renter's insurance buying mountain bikes that were never stolen, lawyers chasing ambulances - yada yada...

jfr

Mountain climber

32N 117W

Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2019 - 06:15pm PT

...some guides went as far as intentionally making hikers ill by spiking their food with large amounts of baking soda, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and other ailments

Yeah, but nobody complained about heartburn.

Heh. I hate to say it, but the first thing I thought was that maybe the guide was using this as a method for getting rid of that one incessant whiner that every group seems to have, the guy who spoils the trek for everyone else. The guide gets both the kickback and a better trip.

Lorenzo

Trad climber

Portland Oregon

Jan 31, 2019 - 09:24pm PT

^^^

I know one of those incessant whiners. HuGE pain in the ass.

But he was also a legendary tipper. A year's salary for getting him off the mountain safe.

Getting rid of PIA’s doesn’t always pay.