Aussie authorities uncover airfare scam on social media
Xinhua, January 20, 2016 Adjust font size:
Australian authorities are warning of a new online travel scam after several hundred Vietnamese students were duped into purchasing fake airline tickets via social media.
New South Wales state police on Wednesday said upwards of 300 students from Sydney and Melbourne had been sold airline tickets via social media website only to realize on check in their bookings had been cancelled.
A 24-year old Vietnamese woman was arrested last week and charged with 10 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
It's believed that the total cost of the airfares involved were in excess of 360,000 Australian dollars (246,942 U.S. dollars).
New South Wales detective superintendent Gavin Dengate told media that the woman allegedly began the scam by selling legitimate tickets, getting notoriety and then delving into fraud that deceived the students. Enditem