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Travel agent arrested in QC after scamming P250,000 off victim


Holidaymakers were warned of scams after a travel agent was arrested for allegedly running off with P250,000 paid by a client whose mother wished to spend her 80th birthday visiting the Our Lady of Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico.

According to a report by Mav Gonzales on Unang Balita on Wednesday, the victim booked a trip with suspect Arlene Calbonero's Blissful Escapes Travel & Tours travel agency.

"Meron kasi kaming common friend. 'Yung friend ko, ni-refer ako sa kanya. Sabi niya, mas mura daw dito ta's mas madaling magpa-rebook anytime kasi nagtatrabaho rin ako," the victim said.

She transacted with Calbonero through the internet and through texts for a five-person trip to Manila, Los Angeles, Mexico, and San Francisco in January.

The victim encountered errors when she attempted to reserve seats with the reference number given by Calbonero as their departure on April 11 approached.

She however continued to trust the agent after their mutual friend assured her of their previous transactions.

Finally she approached the police when the suspect asked for an additional P120,000 to book their flights.

Quezon City Police caught Calbonero in an entrapment operation on Tuesday, wherein she was caught with marked money from the victim.

Calbonero was unable to produce the P250,000 she initially received nor the flight details of the victim.

The victim also lost P450,000 for the accommodations she had booked separately. She lost a total of P700,000.

The suspect refused to give a statement. She will be charged with estafa.

Quezon City Police District Director Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar encouraged other victims of the suspect to forward their cases to authorities.

He also advised vacationers to only use accredited travel agencies with prominent storefronts.

"Baka meron pang iba, nanloko siya, so they could approach the DSOU (District Operations Unit) for us to investigate their case or complaints so they can file additional cases," Eleazar said. —Rie Takumi/KG, GMA News

Tags: estafa
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