Filipino community in Sydney fooled by fake travel agent

                           

By Lolita Tan

 

Sydney  10th July 2009

 

Its well known that Filipinos in need of airline tickets do have a tendency to purchase those with the help of what may be classified as subagents.  There is no problem with this if the subagent is employed and under control of an registered and licensed travel agent which is a member of TCF.(Travel compensation found).

 

Unfortunately some known old crooks are operating again under a new ’Modus operandi” Many properly still remember the case when a certain Mourdeo Bantosa *( For legal consideration all known names are changed by PV)

fooled many Filipinos by offering airline tickets to Manila well below the regular cost but never delivered. The money was apparently transferred to the Philippines and invested in real estate. Bantosa was apparently employed by an registered travel agent who was a crook on his own account. Its still questionable whether where they operation in connivance or did one crook fooled another crook. Anyway the agency has since closed down but  substantial rumors indicate that Mourdeo is back in business.  Not showing her face anymore she is now employing several Filipinos offering tickets to the Philippines  

again  well below cost e.g. for high season departure in December tickets are offered for A$ 960.-Its so far unsolved if the employed subagents are aware of the scam or acting in good faith.

 

Non of the clients has so far actually seen a ticket because they are told that the tickets will only be delivered one week before departure.  Since the crooks only accept bookings for departure in December it could be some time before an end will be put to this scam. Many Filipinos will find themselves without an flight booking and there hard earned money gone.

 

Those days travel agents only have a small profit margin on the sold tickets and if anyone offers tickets well below the average cost  than there is something wrong.  Travelers should make sure that they are actually dealing with an real travel agent specializing in the travel to the Philippines and obtain an official receipt for all money paid.

 

If any of our readers has recently purchased  one of those mentioned tickets please contact  our office. All information will be treaded strictly confidential.