Fleecing the Girl Scouts?
An Oakland Park, Florida, travel agent is facing charges for scamming thousands of dollars from a Girl Scout troop, according to authorities.
The troop from Maryland purchased 18 round-trip tickets from Vannis Lopez to attend the International Girl Scout Jamboree in Zurich, Switzerland.
Lopez, who was an agent at Papiyon Event Planning & Travel last year, accepted more than $12,000 in payments, according to officials.
As the day of the trip neared, she told the troop’s leader that the tickets were not purchased, and she didn’t have the money to pay them back.
Ms Lopez said she had given the money to a subcontracted travel wholesaler in the Bahamas, but refused to provide information on the business.
Broward Sheriff detectives said bank records show Lopez used the money for personal expenses, cash withdrawals and check to family members.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025