RCMP have issued a warrant for the arrest of a former Alberta travel agency owner following a $500,000 fraud that left more than 100 victims with fake bookings and unpaid reservations. The investigation into International Travel Services, located in Fort McMurray’s Peter Pond Mall, began in December 2019 after multiple travellers reported paying for flights and hotels that were never booked.
Victims Left Stranded at Airports and Resorts
According to the RCMP General Investigation Section, victims “paid for services and were left without transportation or accommodations.” The scam dated back to December 2019, with travellers showing up at airports or all-inclusive resorts only to discover their reservations were never paid for. The combined losses total nearly $500,000.
Staff Sergeant Sabrina Clayton emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “a lot of people were victimized and defrauded out of their hard-earned money.” She recounted one victim who arrived at the airport to catch a flight home and was told by staff that the booking was not paid for. When the victim called the agency owner, she was directed to visit the office, where the issue would be “sorted out in two days.”
Victim’s Shock at Crowded Office
Upon arriving at the Peter Pond Mall office on December 26, 2019, the woman was shocked to see a lineup of about 20 other people standing outside the closed doors. Another victim, Tamir, shared his experience in a Facebook post six years ago, claiming he was left nearly $9,000 out of pocket. He purchased tickets worth $5,160 for his pregnant wife and two children on September 30, 2019, to travel from Khartoum to Edmonton on December 30, 2019. After a tiresome back-and-forth, he was asked to pay an additional $3,600 to change travel dates. However, at the Khartoum airport on December 27, 2019, Emirates Airlines said there were no tickets under his name. When he called International Travel Services, he was told the owner was away visiting family in the UK.
Charges and Warrant Issued
Seven years after the initial reports, Wood Buffalo RCMP have laid criminal charges against the former owner, including fraud and money laundering. A warrant has been issued for his arrest. The business has since closed. S/Sgt. Clayton noted the impact on the community, highlighting that many families lost significant savings intended for travel.
