Axis Tours and Travels has been operating in Melbourne’s Dandenong since December 2016. Dozens of people who paid thousands of dollars for their tickets to India and back allegedly found that their tickets have been cancelled without their knowledge.
The passengers allege that they received the flight itinerary after making the payment and later found out that these tickets were cancelled. This has lost them with thousands of dollars.
There are also instances where passengers were stranded at the airport with kids and had to go back home as their tickets were cancelled.
Sydney based Manoj Pillai, whose wife and child were stuck at the airport, shares his experience with SBS Malayalam.
"I booked ticket for my wife and my kid and when they went to the airport they came to know that the ticket was only single trip," says Pillai. "They could only fly from here to India."
"Then I contacted the airlines and came to know that my ticket was all fake because that ticket was not confirmed.
"So I contact the travel agent.
"First he didn't admit that - and later he told me that he didn't book tickets for myself and my wife's and kid, he only booked a one-way ticket and he promised me that he will give the money back - but he didn't."
Although they have approached authorities with complaints, they did not receive any sort of help, fellow alleged victim Jestin Chacko tells SBS Malayalam.
"I booked tickets for me and my family and my parents," says Chacko.
"When I heard that he has cancelled tickets of many, I kept on checking my tickets and one day I found that my tickets were also cancelled.
"I then called the agent and he said he is going to India and once back he will pay the amount.
"But his phone was switched off afterwards.
"I then received an email from the liquidator saying that the company has gone into liquidation. I lost around $7,000."
It was then that Adelaide based Jestin Chacko took the issue to the authorities.
"I contacted the police who directed me to complain to the Consumer Court, which I did," he says.
"I also complained to the Australian Securities and Investment Commission and to the regulating body of travel agencies both in Adelaide and Victoria.
"I have also registered it as a cyber crime and filed complaint to the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA).
"I have done whatever I can. However, the authorities say that these cannot be of much help as the company has gone into liquidation."
Another passenger, Jomy Mathew from Melbourne, tried to book the tickets through Axis Tours and Travels and paid the agent using his credit card.
A fake ticket issued to a passenger Source: Courtesy: Manoj Pillai
He alleges that the agent then misused his credit card after failing to issue him with the tickets.
"I paid $4,200 from my credit card to purchase the ticket on 15th March and the travel agent issued the ticket only on 12th April 2017," says Mathew.
Then at a later time, he says "around 15th of August I came to know from my friends that this particular travel agent closed his business and cancelled all the tickets all over Australia."
"So I checked my ticket with Singapore Airlines and came to know that he cancelled my ticket without my knowledge and he also collected my money as well.
"I lost $4200," says Jomy Mathew. "I was unable to find an alternative ticket to travel on the particular date."
Jason Kora Jose also tried to book a ticket though this agency to bring his parents-in-law from India and says he was forced to pay the ticket price twice.
"I booked some tickets for my in-laws to come from India to Sydney and from Sydney to Kochi," says Jose.
"And he gave me a really cheap rate - like $2,320, whereas the other agents were asking me for $2,800 or $3,300 grants around there.
"So I went with this guy because he was really worth giving us tickets.
Jose says he didn't notice any red flags at first. "I gave him money on Friday," he says. "So its bit normal no transaction to happen on Friday."
"But by Monday he rung me again saying that he didn't get the money yet and if I don't pay him the money just right then and the tickets would be booked out.
"So I wanted this particular date, I didn't want the ticket to get booked out. So I paid him again the full amount of $2,320."
"After two days he issued me tickets. So I asked him about particular seat numbers as well, so that day he said he would fix it out for me.
"Since then, he hadn't been receiving or returning any calls of mine and neither having been replying to any messages."
It was then that Jose began to suspect that something was wrong.
"So I got a bit doubtful about him and I rung an agent in Kerala whom he had been dealing with about tickets from Australia," he explains. "And he said that this agent had also voided my ticket on the same day he booked it."
"So he actually sent me a ticket that was actually been voided by himself.
So then I rang Singapore Airlines to confirm this and it was said that this ticket was booked with minimum details, not a lot of details at all....they could see that it was been voided.
"So in total I lost $4,640," Jason from New South Wales tells SBS Malayalam.
Fake Bank Receipt
In most cases, the passenger's attempt to contact the agent was in vain. However, in some cases, he assured them of transferring the money back and allegedly tricked them with a fake bank receipt. According to them, the bank has confirmed that this is a fake receipt and that no such transaction was done.
Receipt provided to a passenger by the travel agent. According to the passenger, the bank has confirmed that its fake. Source: Supplied
Company goes into liquidation
Adding to their burden of losing thousands of dollars, these customers then received an email from a Sydney-based liquidator informing them that Axis Tours and Travels which started its operation in December 2016 has gone into liquidation in August 2017 with a credit of $190,000 dollars. The letter also shows the list of 59 creditors which the company ought to pay.
SBS Malayalam contacted the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) which confirmed that the company has appointed a liquidator on 22nd of August 2017. However, ASIC did not comment on whether the liquidator has contacted them with the breach report.
"The process is that the liquidators are appointed to assess the assets and identify the creditors and achieve the best results possible," a spokesperson for ASIC tells SBS Malayalam. "Their other responsibility is to let ASIC know if there is a suspicion of the breach of law.
"And if that happens ASIC is not allowed to comment on it."
We have also contacted the Victoria Police to know the details of the complaint filed by the travellers and are waiting for their response.
Liquidator's Letter
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Travel agency failed to respond
After speaking with several of the alleged victims, SBS Malayalam tried to contact the owner and sole Director of Axis Tours and Travels, Mr Joseph Sweetson Panjikaran Thomas, via his various telephone numbers and email. However, we received a single email saying that his solicitor will contact us as soon as possible. We are yet to receive a response.
