Travelscene American Express refers Darwin agent to NT fraud squad.
Travelscene American Express has issued a formal statement about a former Darwin franchisee, saying it’s referred a “very serious incident involving multiple cases of suspected fraud by one individual to the NT Fraud Squad”.
GM Jacqui Timmins said the last contact with the woman, who operated Travelscene Darwin City, was in mid-November and since then the group had been unable to contact her.
“Every effort was made to obtain information from [the woman] in relation to the state of her business,” Timmins said, and when these details were not forthcoming Travelscene immediately terminated its relationship with her on 17 November.
“As the business was independently owned and operated, we neither had, nor have, access to financial records and have no information on the nature and timing of any transaction conducted,” Timmins added.
Today’s move follows a series of reports in the NT News which has today published a photo of the woman along with a story alleging that about 20 Territorians had been “cheated after booking holidays with the company” – along with claims that “Travelscene has refused to compensate victims”.
The Travel Compensation Fund is not involved in the issue because the Northern Territory government is not a party to the TCF.
Timmins said Travelscene was deeply distressed at the impact on a number of people within the Darwin community.
“We have already been able to help some people, with the much appreciated support of suppliers. The situation for other customers is far more complex.
“We have, and will continue to work with those individuals where possible to source alternate arrangements,” Timmins said.
More information in Travel Daily as it comes to hand.