Vacationers lose 1000’s of {dollars}, say Chicago journey agent Laticha Douglas, Flygirl World Travel left them stranded

CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 I-Team is investigating a Chicago journey agent accused of leaving individuals stranded on their holidays and operating off with 1000’s of {dollars}.

People from all around the nation informed the I-Team the journey agent owes them cash

One native girl mentioned her household paid the journey agent, Laticha Douglas, tens of 1000’s of {dollars} for his or her Aruba journey. They mentioned she by no means booked their resort rooms and ran off with their money.

People in different states mentioned they have been ripped off too. Now, police are investigating.

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Katherine Jones-Young could not wait to throw her sister an epic birthday celebration in Aruba.

“Us gathered together, like we’re going to go down to Aruba. Let’s go down here and celebrate and have a great time,” Jones-Young mentioned.

The Oak Forest girl mentioned everybody within the group paid journey agent Latisha Douglas upfront. Jones-Young mentioned she booked journey with the agent prior to now and had an amazing expertise.

For this Aruba journey, she says for her family alone it amounted to greater than $5,500. But once they arrived in Aruba, there was an enormous drawback on the resort.

“They then tell us, ‘You have no reservation with us,'” Jones-Young mentioned. “‘There was no payment. Your reservations were canceled seven days ago due to non-payment.'”

Jones-Young mentioned the group was in a panic. They could not attain the journey agent, and the web site for her firm, Flygirl World Travel, was taken down.

She mentioned she posted about Douglas on social media and tagged the journey agent. That’s when Jones-Young mentioned she heard from tons of of people that mentioned the identical journey agent ghosted them too.

“That’s when I realized, she’s taken our money,” Jones-Young mentioned. “She’s not going to respond to us, and we have nowhere to stay.”

Michelle Griffin in Bowie, Maryland mentioned she paid Douglas almost $4,000 for a visit to Egypt this upcoming October, however by no means acquired her affirmation particulars.

“This can’t be possible,” Griffin mentioned. “This can’t be real.”

Earlier this month, Griffin mentioned she acquired an e mail from Douglas, saying, “if you have not heard yet, Flygirl World Travel has closed its doors and all future trips booked have been cancelled.”

“Girl, where’s my money? Why would you do this to people?” Griffin mentioned. “We are just regular people trying to see the world like you, and you have no idea what it’s like for you to steal $4,000 dollars from somebody, and to just send me a letter and tell me you’re sorry.”

In the e-mail, Douglas cited “financial mistakes” and “bad business choices,” however added “I did not set out to scam or steal from you.”

Douglas advisable that prospects dispute expenses with their card issuer. However, Griffin mentioned her card issuer denied her declare as a result of it has been greater than 90 days.

“Just can’t do people like that and get away with it,” Griffin mentioned.

The I-Team heard from customers in Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee and Oklahoma who mentioned they misplaced cash coping with Douglas.

The Oak Forest Police Department informed the I-Team they’re investigating the journey agent. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office mentioned they’ve acquired 10 complaints in opposition to Flygirl World Travel and Laticha Douglas, with most being filed in the previous couple of weeks.

The Attorney General’s Office mentioned “the complaints involve allegations the business failed to provide promised services, including canceling reservations without providing refunds and failing to provide travel itineraries or making reservations for trips despite being paid to do so… we will be working with consumers in an attempt to mediate complaints.”

Jones-Young mentioned her group in Aruba ended up having to pay 1000’s extra out of pocket for his or her rooms.

“I sat there in Aruba, so upset, and I said, ‘What can I do to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else?’ Because I felt responsible for ruining my sister’s trip, by referring this person who ended up defrauding us,” Jones-Young mentioned. “She definitely needs to be stopped.”

The I-Team has tried calling and emailing Douglas a number of occasions and nonetheless has not heard again.

In an e mail to prospects, the journey agent mentioned she had deep disgrace and remorse for violating her prospects’ belief. The individuals the I-Team spoke with mentioned they do not wish to hear any of that; they simply need their a refund.

People are inspired to contact the FBI in the event that they imagine they’ve misplaced cash coping with this journey agent, or if they have been victimized by any journey or web rip-off.

You are inspired to file a grievance right here: Ic3.gov. The public can even schedule an in-person appointment or present data by calling their native FBI Field Office. The FBI Chicago Field Office might be reached at: (312) 421-6700.