Travel agent allegedly conned customers
A travel agent accused of ripping 16 customers off and leaving them hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket has been charged with making multiple allegedly fraudulent bookings.
Officers from St George Police Area Command in Sydney’s south established Strike Force Bail to investigate reports a travel agent had allegedly failed to honour bookings made by customers.
NSW Police on Monday released footage of the moment Zahra Rachid was arrested.
Ms Rachid, who ran Travel World Sydney at Arncliffe, is accused of cancelling bookings made by customers without their knowledge.
She allegedly did not issue any refunds, NSW Police said.
The 53-year-old was arrested at a unit complex on Mashman Ave, Kingsgrove on June 14.
She was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with 16 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.
The investigation was launched by police after the alleged fraudulent behaviour was reported by multiple people.
Among alleged victims is a woman named Nicole Vris, who told Channel 9’s A Current Affair she used the travel agent to book a trip to Greece with 34 of her family members.
“It’s very hard to round everyone up to go on a holiday at the same time, it’s so hard,” Ms Vris told ACA.
Ms Vris had only realised there was no booking when she went to check her flights with the airline and realised she had no confirmation of the booking.
The family has allegedly lost $160,000, with some members of the family having to find the money to pay for new flights to Greece.
Other members are opting out of the trip as they can’t afford to pay twice, Ms Vris said.
Ms Rachid was refused bail when she was arrested by police, appearing at Sutherland Local Court the same day where she was granted strict conditional bail.
She will reappear in court on July 1.
Investigations under Strike Force Baile are continuing.
