How to protect yourself when booking travel amid alleged $245K Durham Region fraud case

As Durham Regional Police officers allege several people were defrauded of more than $245,000, a regulator for the travel industry in Ontario is urging people to take extra precautions when booking trips and vacations.

“Anytime we hear of cases like the one that was reported by Durham police, we’re very concerned,” Richard Smart, the president and CEO of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), said during an interview with CityNews.

“It’s a lot of money … even though it was over a number of years, Ontarians and Canadians work hard for their earnings.”

Durham Regional Police officers alleged between 2011 and 2019, a woman falsified TICO certification, impersonated a travel agent and engaged in “kiting.” Officers defined “kiting” as a type of fraud when a travel agent “collects cash payments from the clients and then does not apply that money to the clients’ vacation” and then keeps the cash.

In January 2020, officials said TICO issued an alert to the industry indicating the woman was using various names to apply for different jobs. In October of that year, Durham Regional Police financial crimes unit investigators began a probe into the situation. An update released on Monday said charges were laid.

Officers said Tarcia Craig Brown, a 43-year-old Whitby resident, was charged four counts of fraud over $5,000, four counts of using a computer to commit an offence, four counts of intercepting computer functions, four counts of unauthorized use of credit card data, five counts of forgery and six counts of uttering a forged document. The allegations against the accused haven’t been proven in court.

CityNews asked Durham Regional Police about the length of time the alleged behaviour was reported to occur and the lengthy investigation.

“As to why it was not reported more at the time, I don’t have that information. However, the female had used numerous aliases, so 21 aliases that we are aware of,” Const. Emily Mitchell told CityNews on Thursday.

“There is a potential that there are further victims to this, again especially the travel agencies that were working with this female. She also owns her own travel business called Travel Girl Inc., so from that, we’re urging anybody that’s had any interactions or booked any travel through her, potentially has any future travel plans that they’ve planned with her, to please come forward.”

RELATED: Ontario woman posed as travel agent and duped clients of over $240K, police allege

Officers said the accused went by the following identities during the period in question: Alora Tarcia Brown, Naviya Lavana Tarcia Craig Brown, Anneasa Tarcia Brown, Mia Lee Brown, Imani Amaya Brown, Yania Amaya Tarcia Brown, La Toya Tarcia Brown, Amaya Tarcia Brown-Craig, Olivia Tarcia Brown-Craig, Tarana Tarcia Craig, Tarcia Su Mae Craig, Nadine Natyalia Malika Brown Spencer, Malika Elisabeth Vannessa Craig Brown, Dalena Valentia Brown, Alissa Abigail Brown, Aliyana Dalia Tarcia Brown, Denelda Tarcia La Toya Craig, Tarcia La Toya Craig, Elisabeth Brown, Naviya Craig Adolph and Su Mae Craig.

Meanwhile, the travel agencies stepped up to pay for the funds lost by the affected customers to ensure people could still travel. But Smart said experiences like this can shake consumer confidence.

“There’s the mental aspect of that as well, and it puts into question that next time that they go to do that travel purchase, you know how do they go doing it?” he said.

“What it comes down to is trust. It’s so important that consumers have trust in the travel marketplace.”

Smart said there are things Ontario residents should do and know when booking travel through agencies or booking at certain Ontario lodgings. He said the first is going to the online TICO directory to see if the company is registered.

The second tip was to try not to book based on price alone. Smart encouraged people to consult with travel professionals to factor in other considerations.

“What do I need to know [about the] destination? What do I need to know about insurance, trip cancellation, interruption insurance, and medical insurance? So, so important that you appropriately make that informed decision.”

Finally, a complaints process is available to residents should something go wrong with a booking or travel agency.

“This is really a last resort. We have a compensation fund where eligible consumers who have not been provided with the travel services if they booked through that registered TICO agency, they may be eligible to put a claim in,” Smart said.

Despite the charges in this instance, he said what happened in Durham Region is rare.

“The vast majority of travel agencies and the travel agents are good, hard-working citizens of the province. There’s a regulated framework by which they work, and consumers should feel confident,” Smart said.