BUTTERWORTH: A teacher’s wish to take her three children on a holiday to the Maldives Islands was dashed when she was cheated by a travel agent, causing her to lose up to RM7,000.
Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) district police chief ACP Noorzainy Mohd Noor today said, the 47-year-old woman was supposed to be at the tourist destination from March 24 until March 29, but what was expected did not happen, while the agent known as Hajah Siti Aida had fled and could not be contacted.
“The woman who lives in Sungai Dua booked a package to the Maldives on receiving a message from ‘Jom Cuti Helo’ agent via Facebook offering vacation packages for domestic and international destinations at low prices,” he said here.
He said the female teacher who was interested in the offer made payments through a bank account in instalments until Oct 29 last year, before the agent disappeared and could not be reached until today.
“Police believe the suspect’s modus operandi was to deceive victims to make early bookings to get cheap vacation packages and tickets,” he said, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – BERNAMA