Dmitry Portnyagin’s Neverend’s / TRVL GLOBAL Travel Agency Antarctica Push Meets New Allegations: How Advance Sales, Refund Liabilities and a Criminal Case Collide

By Scam-Or Project | Aug. 28, 2025

This report summarizes verified public records and unverified allegations concerning Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Portnyagin and the premium travel brand Neverend. It is presented for public-interest reporting and invites documentary evidence and a right of reply.

Lede

Complainants allege that Dmitry Portnyagin’s premium-travel venture, Neverend, has raised millions of dollars in advance bookings while delivering fewer trips than advertised, describing a cycle in which new customer receipts are used to fund refunds owed to earlier customers. At the same time, Portnyagin faces a money‑laundering case in Moscow courts, which—critics say—casts doubt on an advertised Neverend expedition to Antarctica scheduled for January 25–February 5, 2026. Scam-Or Project has not independently verified the alleged $6 million exposure; the criminal case status is sourced to Russian court reporting.

What is verified (as of publication)

• Portnyagin has been the subject of a money‑laundering prosecution in Moscow. Russian outlets reported the case was sent to court in April 2025; one state outlet reported that he entered a plea acknowledging the charge. Court restrictions on his activities were extended that month, according to local reports.
• Neverend and associated social channels have publicly advertised an Antarctica expedition for January 25–February 5, 2026.
• Neverend markets premium itineraries, including polar trips, and maintains public-facing pages with upcoming events.

Allegations (unverified; provided by complainants)

• Scale: Complainants claim more than $6 million has been raised via bookings and related products; they allege that multiple customers have sought refunds.
• Mechanics: They allege a model in which deposits and balances received for future trips are treated as de facto profit and then spent, leaving insufficient reserves when trips are canceled.
• Antarctica 2026: They assert that the January–February 2026 trip will not operate and that cash inflows are needed to satisfy prior obligations. The newsroom has not reviewed company ledgers, trust arrangements, or audited statements to substantiate these claims.

Explainer: When is money actually ‘profit’ in travel?

Under mainstream accounting guidance, advance receipts for future services are generally liabilities until the service is delivered— i.e., revenue is recognized when the performance obligation (the trip) is fulfilled. In regulated markets, package‑travel rules often require insolvency protection—such as bonding, insurance or trust accounts—to safeguard customer funds and enable refunds if a trip is canceled or an organiser fails.

A simple model of the risk (illustrative math)

Suppose an organiser books 100 travelers at a nominal ‘profit’ of $10,000 each, recording an apparent $1,000,000 margin. If that organiser spends the cash before the trip runs, and the trip later cancels, full refunds and the foregone ‘profit’ must be repaid. Without ring‑fenced reserves or insolvency protection, the only short‑term source of cash may be new customers’ payments—creating a harmful cycle.

Timeline (key public milestones and allegations)

• Apr 2024 — Portnyagin detained in a tax‑evasion investigation; searches at associated businesses reported by Russian media.
• Apr 2025 — Money‑laundering case reported sent to court; local reports say restrictions on his activities were extended; one outlet later reported a guilty plea in court proceedings.
• 2025 — Neverend promotes an Antarctica expedition slated for Jan 25–Feb 5, 2026 on public channels and events pages.
• 2025 — Complainants publish posts alleging a ‘pyramid’ pattern in which new bookings pay for old refunds; they cite messages purportedly from associates. Scam-Or Project has not independently authenticated these messages.

Due‑diligence checklist for prospective travelers (general guidance)

• Ask how advance payments are protected (bonding, insurance, trust account) and who the independent trustee/insurer is.
• Request written terms that clarify when revenue is recognized and when refunds are due; avoid contracts that offset refunds against ‘already spent’ commissions.
• For polar expeditions, verify vessel charter agreements and operating partners; request the charter party or a redacted confirmation.
• Use staged payments tied to milestones; pay by methods that preserve dispute rights; retain all written communications.
• Check regulator and court databases in the organiser’s home jurisdiction for active cases or restrictions.

What would corroborate or refute the allegations

• Dated itineraries, charter contracts or letters of intent for the 2026 Antarctica trip;
• Customer ledgers showing balances of deferred revenue vs. cash; bank statements showing the use of funds;
• Records of refunds (volumes, timelines, reasons);
• Insolvency‑protection documentation (bond/insurance/trust);
• Court rulings, dockets, or hearing transcripts reflecting the status and outcome of the money‑laundering case.

Right of reply

We will publish responses from Dmitry Portnyagin, Neverend, and their representatives. If they provide documentation—audited accounts, trust arrangements, charter contracts, and court documents—supporting their position, we will include their statements in full or in summary.

Sourcing note

Criminal‑case status is drawn from Russian media reporting and court‑watch coverage. Advertised itinerary dates are drawn from Neverend’s public marketing channels and events pages. Allegations regarding the $6 million exposure and refund mechanics were supplied by complainants / whistleblowers and Telegram posts and have not been independently verified by Scam-Or Project.

Editor’s note: This article presents allegations that have not been tested in court. It should be read alongside official documents as they become available. Publication should follow legal review.

SIDEBAR — What to do if your 2026 trip is canceled

1. Get it in writing: Ask the organiser for a formal cancellation notice, the stated reason, and the refund timetable. Keep contracts, invoices, receipts, and all emails in one file.
2. Ask for a cash refund first: Vouchers/credits are optional unless you explicitly accept them. If you take a credit, set a written expiry and rebooking terms.
3. Use the payment rails: If you paid by card, contact your issuer immediately to dispute a service-not-provided charge. Deadlines vary by network/issuer and are often tied to the expected travel date (commonly ~60–120 days). Include the cancellation notice and itinerary.
4. Bank transfer/debit/PayPal: Ask your bank to attempt a recall or chargeback if supported; time windows can be short. On PayPal, disputes typically must be opened within 180 days—check your transaction for the exact window.
5. Travel insurance: File a claim if your policy covers supplier default/cancellation (not all do). Provide invoices, the cancellation notice, and payment proof. If you bought with a premium card, check embedded trip-cancellation benefits.
6. Escalate smartly: If the organiser is in your country, contact your national consumer-protection authority or ombudsman. If you booked through an EU/UK organiser, you may have protections under package-travel rules—ask the organiser for their bond/insurance/trust details and the claims process.
7. Group leverage: Coordinate with fellow travellers to document numbers, amounts, and dates. A consolidated timeline helps banks, insurers and (if needed) courts/insolvency practitioners.

Template you can copy/paste to the organiser:

Subject: Refund Request – [Trip name / dates]

Hello [Company],

Please confirm cancellation of my booking [#] for [dates] and issue a full refund of [amount] to my original payment method.
Attached are my contract, payment receipt(s), and itinerary. Kindly provide:

• written confirmation of cancellation;
• the refund amount and date of processing;
• details of any bond/insurance/trust protecting customer funds and how to file a claim, if applicable.

If a refund is not initiated within [7] days, I will dispute the charge with my card issuer and notify relevant consumer authorities.

Thank you,
[Name]
[Email / phone]