Dubai travel agent sells Dh167k of fake tickets

Khor Fakkan: An Indian man who duped victims with fake travel packages from a travel agency in Khor Fakkan has been arrested by police following 14 complaints from customers.

Authorities said on Sunday that the man made dozens of false reservations and sold fake tickets.

Brigadier Saif Al Ziri Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, said that the Sharjah Police represented by the Eastern Region Police Department, received 14 complaints about an Asian man who worked in a travel agency office in Khor Fakkan selling fake tickets worth Dh167,000 to them.

The police formed an investigation team and arrested the suspect.

The employee cheated dozens of people, police said, and offered them tickets. hotels, food and internal transport reservations.

One of the victims, an Emirati man and resident of Khor Fakkan, identified as H.A.M. told Gulf News that when he arrived to the airport with his bride he was shocked to discover that there were no reservations and his ticket was bogus.

The couple were newly married and supposed to travel to Maldives.

The victim said that he approached the man to get his money back to no avail.

An official at Sharjah Police told Gulf News that the police received a number of complaints and they are investigating the incident.

Its too early to reveal the details of the case, an official said, but the suspect was arrested before he could flee the country.

When arrested by police, the suspect had packed his luggage and was about to the leave the country with the stolen money, said authorities.

The case has been referred to public prosecutors.

Sharjah Police official called on consumers to buy and book tickets through approved travel agencies and reliable travel companies, or through the offices of known airlines.

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