Sydney travel agent who allegedly conned 50 holiday-makers with fake itineraries is charged

A Sydney travel agent allegedly issued fake airline tickets and itineraries and left up to 50 people more than $500,000 out of pocket hit with fraud charges over “elaborate scam”.

A Sydney travel agent who allegedly issued fake airline tickets and itineraries which left up to 50 holiday-makers more than $500,000 out of pocket, has been charged over the elaborate scam.

Zahra Rachid, 53, will face court next month charged with 16 fraud offences after she allegedly took customer payments for overseas trips but never made the bookings with airlines or hotels.

Police allege Rachid, who ran Travel World Sydney at Arncliffe, would dummy up travel documents – complete with booking reference numbers and seat allocation – to appear like a formal ticket or itinerary, and pocket the payment.

Detectives from the St George Local Area Command began investigating Rachid last month after dozens of people reported the alleged fraudulent behaviour by Rachid and her business.

Among the alleged victims was a family of 35 who booked a “once in a lifetime” trip to Greece and paid $160,000, only to discover the tickets did not exist when they contacted Emirates to change seating allocation a few days before they were meant to leave Sydney.

Travel World Sydney at Arncliffe director Zahra Rachid has been charged with 16 fraud offences after she allegedly took payments for overseas holidays but never made the bookings. Picture: Facebook

Another couple saved for years for their “dream holiday” to the United States, only to discover the flights and accommodation was allegedly never booked.

“Last month, officers from St George Police Area Command established Strike Force Baile to investigate reports a travel agent had allegedly failed to honour bookings made by customers,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Rachid, 53, was arrested and charged with fraud offences and will face court in July. Picture: Channel 9

“It will be alleged that 16 different people made bookings through the agent that were later cancelled without their knowledge, and no refunds were issued”.

Rachid was arrested at her Kingsgrove unit on Friday and taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with 16 counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception.

She will appear in Sutherland Local Court on July 1.

Police said they will allege that there were up to 50 people who were scammed out of about $500,000 by Rachid, after more customers came forward over the weekend and made statements claiming to have been caught up in the travel con.

One woman, who asked not to be named, booked tickets through Rachid to visit family in Switzerland.

“I heard on the grapevine that some people had been caught up in some (alleged) scam and their tickets weren’t real, so I called Qantas,” the woman said.

“They told me ‘Sorry, but you’re not on our system’ … I couldn’t believe it, and I can’t afford to buy another ticket.”

Police arrest Sydney travel agent Zahra Rachid at her Kingsgrove unit. Picture: NSW Police

Rachid’s business website states “we curate experiences that are anything but ordinary”.

“We’ll guide you through the visa process, translate those confusing menus, and ensure you have all the insider tips to avoid tourist traps … So, dust off your passport, breakfree from your boring routine, and enjoy the extraordinary with us”.

NSW Fair Trading said it had received more than 30 complaints against Rachid totalling more than $250,000 in lost consumer purchases since the start of the year, and it was working with police.

As part of Rachid’s strict bail conditions, she must report daily to Hurstville police, surrender her passport and not contact any previous customers of Travel World Sydney.