WA people tricked in Bali holiday scam

WA Consumer Protection wants to hear from people who have paid for flights or accommodation with Bali Indulgence only to find they were not booked.

West Australians have been duped into paying for flights and accommodation in Bali only to later discover they were never booked with an airline or hotel.

Consumer Protection wants to hear from people who have dealt with a travel business called Bali Indulgence, run by Australian woman Chivonne Betts.

Some phone calls have been received by Consumer Protection in recent days, but monitoring of social media and other websites indicates more people have been affected.

Acting commissioner Gary Newcombe said complaint details were needed so the matter could be investigated properly.

"We understand people who have used Bali Indulgence have been turning up at the airport to find they have no valid ticket for the flight, arriving in Bali to discover the hotel has no record of their booking or discovering the lack of bookings prior to travel," he said.

"Anyone who has booked with Bali Indulgence or `Ultimate Indulgence Specialist' Chivonne Betts, and is yet to travel, should confirm their bookings directly with the airline and/or accommodation provider."

Mr Newcombe said consumers who had made a booking using a credit card should seek a transaction reversal from their card provider.

But those who paid by direct bank transfer might not be able to access redress that way, although those people should still speak with their bank about their options, he said.

"It is also worth checking your travel insurance policy and speaking with your insurance provider to see whether you are covered at all," Mr Newcombe said.

Those affected should call Consumer Protection on 1300 30 40 54.


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