Alleged travel scam leaves families stranded and out of pocket

IT WAS a grim festive season for two families who had planned to travel to Mauritius and Turkey but instead fell victim to an alleged scam.

The families are now hoping they will get their money back. 

Travel agent Premila Shunmugam, who was charged with three counts of fraud amounting to R400 000, was however able to spend the festive season out of jail after she was granted R100 000 bail in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on December 23.

It is alleged that in July 2025, Shunmugam used the same modus operandi to defraud multiple clients. 

"She allegedly offered to help the complainants to book luxury trips abroad through her travel agency. After reaching agreement, the complainants would transfer funds to her. However, after receiving the money, the accused would not render any services to the complainants and did not refund the funds. The complainants subsequently reported the matters at various police stations. On December 8, 2025, she went to Wierdaburg Police Station to provide the police with her statement, and after interrogation she was arrested,” said Lumka Mahanjana, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority in Gauteng.

During bail proceedings, the state opposed Shunmugam’s release on bail. 

“The prosecutor, Chris Maruma, submitted an affidavit from the investigating officer, Sergeant Martin Malapela, stating that Shunmugam was not a first-time offender because she had a previous conviction of fraud from the year 2006. 

"The affidavit further stated that the accused currently had 37 dockets opened against her in Gauteng and other provinces and that after relocating to a different area, she refused to provide the police with her new address. 

"However, the magistrate said that even though the accused had several dockets opened against her, she had not been charged yet and that having one previous conviction does not mean that she had a propensity to commit crime. Therefore, he found exceptional circumstances to release the accused on bail,” Mahanjana added.

A 39-year-old man from Johannesburg, who declined to be named, said he booked a holiday to Mauritius for him and his partner from December 29 to January 6. He said he initially paid R36 000 followed by R24 000. 

"We then got excuses upon excuses about her being sick and that her laptop was broken. We then got confirmation of a provisional booking and thereafter we got an email that her company was liquidating and that she would return the money, but we never got a cent back,” said the man. 

He said instead of being in Mauritius looking for wedding venues, they spent the festive season at home.

A pensioner said she lost just over R200 000. 

She and her family of eight wanted to travel to Turkey from December 20 to 29 to celebrate her birthday. 

“We could not go on our trip and spent the holidays with family and friends at our home. We are now trying to get our money back,” she said.

The matter adjourned to February for further investigations.

THE POST