TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of residents in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, failed to go on their vacation after finding out that they were deceived by a travel agent.
The travel agent, Rosca Leonita Riwu Kaho, offered cheap tickets to potential victims. Unsuspecting victims will later purchase the ticket and will be asked to transfer a certain amount of money in accordance to their ticket price. The money was transferred directly to Rosca's account. After receiving the money, the travel agent continues to delay the departure date using various reasons.
After finding out they were tricked, the customers filed reports to the East Nusa Tenggara Police on Friday, May 6, 2016. One of the customers, Dewi Sinaga, explained that she was lured by the cheap prices offered by the travel agent.
Dewi admitted that she immediately transferred around Rp 70-80 million because she was afraid of running out of ticket. "At first [there were testimonies] of people going to vacation using the cheap ticket, that is why we were lured to pay," Dewi said.
Comr. Stefanus Baba, Chief of the Integrated Services Center of the East Nusa Tenggara Police said that the suspect managed to create a website like an official ticket agent. "First [the travel agent business] runs well. But on April and May 2016, the suspect did not provide booking codes," Stefanus said.
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