Need Help regarding Airlinktravel

[peterrabbit]

I question re a possible travel scam.

A friend recently tried to book cheap fares to India using an online site called AirLinkTravel. They got him to pay upfront, but tickets never arrived. He is frantic. Is this a scam site? It is so hard to know. they now do not answer his emails, and hang up when he calls.

 

[AIRwin]

Is it this online site?

Air Link Travel – Best Cheap Flight Deals | Hotels

www.airlinktravel.com.au

 

[peterrabbit]

Sorry, I have searched the internet but I cannot find detail or reviews on this travel site. The site itself seems scammy - poor english, etc. that they required him to pay full ticket price seems common, but that they now disconnect him if he calls seems bad.

Post automatically merged: Dec 20, 2022

Is it this online site?

Air Link Travel – Best Cheap Flight Deals | Hotels

www.airlinktravel.com.au

Yes! That is the site. It seems shonky.

 

[peterrabbit]

They have terms and conditions that seem skimmed from other sites, such as Kiwi.com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If it is a scam site your friend could do a chargeback on their credit card?

I’d try calling.

If you do a google map search and select street view, can you see their shop?

 

[peterrabbit]

If it is a scam site your friend could do a chargeback on their credit card?

I’d try calling.

If you do a google map search and select street view, can you see their shop?

They paid via direct transfer, not credit card

 

[peterrabbit]

they have also contacted their bank, police, etc. I have tried to explain that it is not really a police matter, as the TA could claim they are still working on things. But I really want to know if this outfit has appearded on the AFF radar as a scam site - it is simply impossible to differentiate theses days.

Post automatically merged: Dec 20, 2022

Unfortunately, in my thinking, this is a case of people trying with scam sites that offer shonky low prices, that entice people.

 

[AIRwin]

This looks like a different number to what is showing on the website:
Airlink Travel & Tour
(03) 8723 0102

Airlink Travel & Tour

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[peterrabbit]

Thanks everyone, what I am getting is that this tiny outfit is not yet known as a bogus site. Even though it may be. If it as a ongoing thing am sure that it would have appeared on your radar.

 

[Daver6]

Site looks like an absolute scam to me. Pretends to be an Australian business, yet no ABN listed. Full of poor English, typos, mentions foreign currency etc.

I'm sorry for your friend but honestly, there could not possibly be more alarm bells going off on my mind about this site.

Your friend needs to contact their bank and see what they can do (I suspect not much).

Best of luck and I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[peterrabbit]

Site looks like an absolute scam to me. Pretends to be an Australian business, yet no ABN listed. Full of poor English, typos, mentions foreign currency etc.

I'm sorry for your friend but honestly, there could not possibly be more alarm bells going off on my mind about this site.

Your friend needs to contact their bank and see what they can do (I suspect not much).

Best of luck and I hope I'm wrong though.

Thanks Daver, my friend has english as second language so site did not make alarm bells.

 

[p--and--t]

The site talks about being registered under UK law and deposits made in GBP, but based next to Melbourne Airport, but has a NSW phone number listed. Smellier than a fish left in the sun for a week.

 

[Brissy1]

Site looks like an absolute scam to me. Pretends to be an Australian business, yet no ABN listed. Full of poor English, typos, mentions foreign currency etc.

I'm sorry for your friend but honestly, there could not possibly be more alarm bells going off on my mind about this site.

Your friend needs to contact their bank and see what they can do (I suspect not much).

Best of luck and I hope I'm wrong though.

I fear you're right. The well written bits seem to be lifted straight from kiwi.com (compare the "about" on each site), not that I'd ever heard of kiwi com

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Site looks like an absolute scam to me. Pretends to be an Australian business, yet no ABN listed. Full of poor English, typos, mentions foreign currency etc.

I'm sorry for your friend but honestly, there could not possibly be more alarm bells going off on my mind about this site.

Your friend needs to contact their bank and see what they can do (I suspect not much).

Best of luck and I hope I'm wrong though.

Chargeback!

Friend just needs to call their bank and dispute the charge.

 

[AIRwin]

Chargeback!

Friend just needs to call their bank and dispute the charge.

Even with a direct bank transfer?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Even with a direct bank transfer?

Oh… missed that!

edited my post accordingly

 

[Mwenenzi]

whois.com

WHOIS search results
Domain Name: AIRLINKTRAVEL.COM.AU
Registry Domain ID: D407400000126173677-AU
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.auda.org.au
Registrar URL: Contact Us - 24/7 Customer Service | Crazy Domains AU
Last Modified: 2022-09-13T22:23:35Z
Registrar Name: Web Address Registration Pty Ltd
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: [email protected]
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +61.894220890
Reseller Name:
Status: serverRenewProhibited .au Whois Status Codes | Identity Digital AU
Status Reason: Not Currently Eligible For Renewal
Registrant Contact ID: R-030020221-SN
Registrant Contact Name: Bobby N dennis
Tech Contact ID: C-011355477-SN
Tech Contact Name: Bobby N dennis
Name Server: NS2.SYRAHOST.COM
Name Server: NS1.SYRAHOST.COM
DNSSEC: unsigned
Registrant: MANSSEH PTY LTD
Registrant ID: ABN 67654933758
Eligibility Type: Company

>>> Last update of WHOIS database: 2022-12-20T19:40:59Z <<<

Afilias Australia Pty Ltd (Afilias), for itself and on behalf of .au Domain Administration Limited (auDA), makes the WHOIS registration data directory service (WHOIS Service) available solely for the purposes of:
(a) querying the availability of a domain name licence;
(b) identifying the holder of a domain name licence; and/or
(c) contacting the holder of a domain name licence in relation to that domain name and its use.
The WHOIS Service must not be used for any other purpose (even if that purpose is lawful), including:
(a) aggregating, collecting or compiling information from the WHOIS database, whether for personal or commercial purposes;
(b) enabling the sending of unsolicited electronic communications; and / or
(c) enabling high volume, automated, electronic processes that send queries or data to the systems of Afilias, any registrar, any domain name licence holder, or auDA.
The WHOIS Service is provided for information purposes only. By using the WHOIS Service, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. The WHOIS Service is operated in accordance with the auDA WHOIS Policy (available at WHOIS Policy (2014-07) | auDA ).

Current details for ABN 67 654 933 758 | ABN Lookup

www.abr.business.gov.au

 

[NM]

From the ABN data show in previous post in this thread, it shows "Not currently registered for GST", which mean s they must have a reported turnover of less than 50K. For an on-line travel agency, they must be very poor at their job to have such low turnover ... or its a scam. I lean towards the latter.

Sounds like a very unfortunate situation. There are a few take-aways for future travel planning, but obviously too late for this friend:

• If the fare looks like its too good to be true, then it probably is.
• Always pay via a credit card to keep the charge-back option available, even though it will usually result in a fee/surcharge (its worth the extra cost).
• Check customer reviews and company reputation before engaging.

 

[bussyboy]

I note the flight search asks for phone number, the booking process probably asked for passport or other details - the OP's friend will probably be told the payment is "missing" and "what's the account details you paid from"...

I fear that on and on will go the identify theft.

 

[peterrabbit]

Thanks all. I fear he may have lost his money. It is truly bad that someone can lose so much money when trying to visit family. And no way to realistically get it back. Seems wrong that someone can have so much money scammed, without any recourse to the law. I have pounded him with the idea to in future only use credit cards. But he was simply thinking he had found a cheap travel way. Please tell everyone that this site is shonky.