Dubai travel agent on the run after ticket scam

A Dubai travel agent is on the run from police after embezzling more than AED 500,000 (US$ 136,126) from his company Al Diyafa Tourism, Dubai.

According to a report in Emirates 24 / 7 the agent has now fled to India with the cash which he collected personally from clients having promised to sell them cheap business-class tickets to Kerala.

The agent sold around 200 of the fake tickets to clients which he issued online using the agency’s accounts, pocketing customers’ money.

Mohammed Tariq, owner of Al Diyafa Tourism said a warrant is out for the agent's arrest and passengers are being refunded.

“He managed to steal a cash receipt book and was collecting money through several of his friends and issuing receipts and tickets. Many passengers who are now claiming to have paid MF only have tickets and no receipts,” he said.

“Today we repaid some staff from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority, all from Kerala who had booked tickets through him. A case has already been filed in India against him and police there are searching for him with an arrest warrant.”