Fraudulent ‘travel agent’ arrested!

A FRAUDULENT travel
agent in the Western Cape
who ran an airline ticket
discount scam valued
at R500 000 has been
arrested by the Hawks.
From December 2016 to
September 2017, Chandra
Kumar Yadav defrauded
clients by telling them that
he was able to purchase
discounted airline tickets
on their behalf, in exchange
for cash payments. He
allegedly used stolen credit
card information to obtain
the tickets at discounts of
up to 60%. Some victims
had their tickets cancelled
before they could travel.
Following investigations,
a team from the Hawks
conducted a search
and seizure operation
at Chandra’s residence
in Gordons Bay, and
electronic equipment,
which included cellphones,
SIM cards, and computers,
was seized for analysis
resulting in his recent
arrest.
Chandra appeared in the
Strand Magistrate’s Court
on Wednesday, October 11,
after he was arrested by
the Western Cape Serious
Commercial Crime Unit of
the Hawks. He has been
remanded in custody and
his case was postponed
to October 25. He is
facing charges of fraud,
forgery, money laundering
and contraventions of the
Electronic Communications
and Transactions Act.
If any of your clients
have been affected by this
scam, they are advised to
contact the airlines so that
the relevant links can be
established, Captain Lloyd
Ramovah told TNW.
“Victims can also contact
the investigating officer,
Captain Trevor Bailey.”
According to the Hawks,
the airlines lost about
R500 000 and some
travellers also lost money
after the airlines cancelled
their tickets.