Fraudster defrauded 29 people, working for two years under the guise of a travel agency
The Investigative Committee reported on the investigation of a large-scale fraud case committed under the guise of a travel agency.
Woman declared wanted for large-scale fraud. Photo: sk.gov.by
According to the investigation, since the beginning of 2024, a 51-year-old Minsk resident opened a firm and offered travel organization services. At first glance, everything looked legal: contracts were concluded with clients, applications were submitted to tour operators, and money for tours was transferred to the company's bank account. However, the funds were not used for their intended purpose.
The woman transferred only about a fifth of the trip's cost to tour operators. Due to incomplete payment, bookings were subsequently canceled, and the transferred amounts were returned. With the money received from clients, the fraudster neither settled with partners nor returned it to customers, but directed it towards office rent, employee salaries, utilities, and other expenses.
After some time, people started receiving notifications about tour cancellations, allegedly due to financial errors. The businesswoman offered them to pay for the trip in full again, promising to return the money after the journey. However, those who did not agree to such terms turned to the police.
The investigation established that over two years, the woman defrauded 29 residents of Minsk and illegally obtained more than 250 thousand rubles. A criminal case has been initiated under the article on fraud on a particularly large scale. The woman's possible involvement in other similar crimes is also being checked.
The Investigative Committee reminds: before purchasing tourist services, it is advisable to check the agency's reputation, read contracts carefully, do not transfer money to personal cards, keep all documents, and be wary of overly cheap offers.
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