Mississauga woman running 'fictitious travel agency' bilked customers out of $108K, police allege
A Mississauga woman who had been posing as a travel agent operating a "fictitious travel agency" has been charged with defrauding the public of more than $108,000, Peel Regional Police say.
Authorities allege Libia Guerra Paez, 40, defrauded at least 22 different people in the GTA.
CBC Toronto first reported on Guerra Paez when a woman bought her family of six tickets to Colombia for the Christmas holidays only to find those tickets were never purchased.
After Guerra Paez was charged, another traveller, Elkin Tabares, came forward to say his family purchased tickets to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, for the December holidays only to find out the tickets weren't confirmed.
Police now allege others paid for vacations, via credit card payments and bank e-transfers, but never received any services. After being paid, police said in a news release, Guerra Paez would send people "falsified vacation packages that were of no value."
When those people tried to contact her, she would ignore them, or worse.
Const. Harinder Sohi says in some cases, people didn't realize they were the victims of fraud until they got to the airport.
"You can imagine going to the airport with all your luggage and family members...going through everything and then getting to the gate and realizing this ticket doesn't even exist."
The force says Guerra Paez operated her travel agency from April 1 to December 31 last year.
Guerra Paez was arrested last Thursday, and released on several conditions. She's set to appear in court in April.
The Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) has also filed charges against Guerra Paez.
Refund cheque bounced back
Tabares said he had been saving up for three years to take his family on a trip to Punta Cana, along with members of his extended family. In total, 25 people were expected to travel together.
Tabares said when his family was planning their trip, Guerra Paez's agency was $200 cheaper than other trips and agents.
They were assured their trip would go smoothly, he said.
The group deposited the money into Guerra Paez's account and received the tickets. But when Tabares and his family tried to confirm their tickets with Air Transat, they were told they were not scheduled for the trip.
Guerra Paez told the Tabares family not to worry when they followed up, but the group requested a refund.
Guerra Paez sent a refund cheque of $24,000, but CBC Toronto has seen documentation that shows the cheque bounced.
Tabares said his wife have filed a complaint with TICO and also reached out to police.
