Sydney travel agent accused of fleecing customers out of $500,000

A travel agent accused of ripping off up to 50 holiday-makers by allegedly issuing fake airline tickets and itineraries has been charged.

Zahra Rachid, 53 who ran the Travel World Sydney travel agency at Arncliffe in the city’s south, has been charged with 16 counts of fraud after she allegedly scammed customers out of more than $500,000.  

Police will allege that Rachid created totally fake travel documents, complete with booking reference numbers and seat allocations before pocketing the payments from customers.

Investigations into Rachid were launched last month when detectives established  up Strike Force Baile and began looking into alleged reports from dozens of would-be travellers. 

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Police will allege 16 different people made bookings through the agent that were later cancelled without their knowledge, and no refunds were issued. 

The alleged victims included a family of 35 who had booked a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday to Greece, which cost $160,000.

Rachid was arrested at a unit complex in Kingsgrove in Sydney’s south last Friday morning. 

She was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with 16 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

Rachid was refused bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court later that day, where she was granted conditional bail to reappear on July 1. 

Under her bail conditions, Rachid must report to police daily, surrender her passport and not contact any previous customers of Travel World Sydney. 

Police are continuing their investigations under Strike Force Baile.

Rachid’s Travel World Sydney business website remains online but the phone number has been disconnected.