Travel troubles Down Under: Scammer turns families’ dream holidays into nightmares
- Replies 8
When we think of travel, we often imagine the excitement of exploring new places, the joy of creating memories with loved ones, and the anticipation of a well-deserved break from the daily grind.
However, for several Australian families, their dream vacations turned into a financial and emotional nightmare, all thanks to a Sydney travel agent's alleged deceit.
The agent in question, operating under the name Travel World Sydney in Arncliffe, was accused of crafting elaborate fake itineraries for unsuspecting clients.
Nicole Vris and her family were among those who fell victim to this alleged scam.
They enlisted the services of Travel World Sydney and its director Zahra Rachid to arrange a joyous gathering of 35 family members in the picturesque landscapes of Greece.
‘To plan this holiday it takes a very long time, to take time off work, to save your money for the ticket and for your spending money,’ Ms Vris lamented.
The family paid Rachid and Travel World Sydney over $160,000 for round-trip flights and lodging.
The excitement turned to confusion and then to horror as the family discovered that the booking confirmations they had received were nothing but a sham.
‘We called Emirates directly, obviously, they asked us for numbers that were on that itinerary, they just didn't exist, we were not in the system,’ Ms Vris recounted.
The distressing situation escalated when attempts to contact the travel agent, Zahra Rachid, for explanations or refunds led nowhere.
Rachid reportedly gave them the runaround before ceasing communication entirely.
The financial loss was devastating, with many family members unable to afford to rebook their travel plans.
‘A lot of families will never recover from this financially, it's a disaster, they can't recover,’ Ms Vris said.
The Vris family was not alone in their plight. Fatima Awada and her family also experienced a similar betrayal.
They had been looking forward to a reunion in Germany, a trip that was meant to bridge years of distance between loved ones.
Word spread that Rachid had closed her office amidst a growing number of complaints about unbooked travel arrangements.
Worried about her own reservations, Ms Awada contacted her airline, which, she claimed, informed her that the tickets had been voided in April.
‘My mum hasn't seen her sisters in such a long time, and just to spend time with them and make memories,’ she shared. ‘But it is not happening anymore, for me at least.’
‘It is a big hit, and it is not just me. My sisters, my mum and her kids as well.’
‘They paid nearly $10k. That's just from us, that's nearly $15k of our money,’ Ms Awada added, noting that she is now unable to afford travelling anymore.
Fatima’s older sister Nouha also had her flight cancelled merely two days before the scheduled departure.
‘We had just called to ask about our bags, and they're like, “Oh, you don't have a ticket,” and we're like, “What? Our flight is tomorrow,”' Noura narrated.
‘So we had to try and find new tickets straight away.’
The office of Travel World Sydney now stands empty, with a note from the landlord indicating repossession, and a directive for affected customers to contact the police after their travel date has passed.
Travel World Sydney and Rachid also reportedly failed to respond to several requests for comment.
The New South Wales Police took the matter seriously, launching a strike force investigation into the alleged frauds.
They urged anyone affected to come forward and provide information to assist in the investigation.
Fair Trading had also been bombarded with 28 official complaints, totalling more than $235,000 in losses.
You can read NSW Police's full statement here:
As affected individuals navigate the fallout from these deceptive practices, stories of similar struggles with other travel agencies highlight the broader issue of trust and accountability within the industry.
Couples recounted their drawn-out battles to reclaim lost funds, echoing the frustrations and financial burdens experienced by those entangled in the web of deceit spun by unscrupulous travel agents.
Similarly, families recount their nightmares of lost bookings and dashed holiday dreams, underscoring the urgent need for transparency and consumer protection measures in the travel sector.
Have you or someone you know ever experienced a travel scam? How did you deal with it, and what advice would you give others to avoid falling into a similar trap? Share your stories and tips in the comments below.
However, for several Australian families, their dream vacations turned into a financial and emotional nightmare, all thanks to a Sydney travel agent's alleged deceit.
The agent in question, operating under the name Travel World Sydney in Arncliffe, was accused of crafting elaborate fake itineraries for unsuspecting clients.
Nicole Vris and her family were among those who fell victim to this alleged scam.
They enlisted the services of Travel World Sydney and its director Zahra Rachid to arrange a joyous gathering of 35 family members in the picturesque landscapes of Greece.
‘To plan this holiday it takes a very long time, to take time off work, to save your money for the ticket and for your spending money,’ Ms Vris lamented.
The family paid Rachid and Travel World Sydney over $160,000 for round-trip flights and lodging.
A Sydney travel agent allegedly fabricated travel plans for costly trips, leaving many travellers with financial losses. Credits: Instagram / Travel World Sydney
The excitement turned to confusion and then to horror as the family discovered that the booking confirmations they had received were nothing but a sham.
‘We called Emirates directly, obviously, they asked us for numbers that were on that itinerary, they just didn't exist, we were not in the system,’ Ms Vris recounted.
The distressing situation escalated when attempts to contact the travel agent, Zahra Rachid, for explanations or refunds led nowhere.
Rachid reportedly gave them the runaround before ceasing communication entirely.
The financial loss was devastating, with many family members unable to afford to rebook their travel plans.
‘A lot of families will never recover from this financially, it's a disaster, they can't recover,’ Ms Vris said.
The Vris family was not alone in their plight. Fatima Awada and her family also experienced a similar betrayal.
They had been looking forward to a reunion in Germany, a trip that was meant to bridge years of distance between loved ones.
Word spread that Rachid had closed her office amidst a growing number of complaints about unbooked travel arrangements.
Worried about her own reservations, Ms Awada contacted her airline, which, she claimed, informed her that the tickets had been voided in April.
‘My mum hasn't seen her sisters in such a long time, and just to spend time with them and make memories,’ she shared. ‘But it is not happening anymore, for me at least.’
‘It is a big hit, and it is not just me. My sisters, my mum and her kids as well.’
‘They paid nearly $10k. That's just from us, that's nearly $15k of our money,’ Ms Awada added, noting that she is now unable to afford travelling anymore.
Fatima’s older sister Nouha also had her flight cancelled merely two days before the scheduled departure.
‘We had just called to ask about our bags, and they're like, “Oh, you don't have a ticket,” and we're like, “What? Our flight is tomorrow,”' Noura narrated.
‘So we had to try and find new tickets straight away.’
The office of Travel World Sydney now stands empty, with a note from the landlord indicating repossession, and a directive for affected customers to contact the police after their travel date has passed.
Travel World Sydney and Rachid also reportedly failed to respond to several requests for comment.
The New South Wales Police took the matter seriously, launching a strike force investigation into the alleged frauds.
They urged anyone affected to come forward and provide information to assist in the investigation.
Fair Trading had also been bombarded with 28 official complaints, totalling more than $235,000 in losses.
You can read NSW Police's full statement here:
As affected individuals navigate the fallout from these deceptive practices, stories of similar struggles with other travel agencies highlight the broader issue of trust and accountability within the industry.
Couples recounted their drawn-out battles to reclaim lost funds, echoing the frustrations and financial burdens experienced by those entangled in the web of deceit spun by unscrupulous travel agents.
Similarly, families recount their nightmares of lost bookings and dashed holiday dreams, underscoring the urgent need for transparency and consumer protection measures in the travel sector.
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