Helloworld agency raided as fraud investigation escalates

Helloworld agency raided as fraud investigation escalates

Northern Territory police have raided a Helloworld Darwin travel agency as part of an ongoing fraud investigation over the Pensioner Travel Concession Scheme, local papers report.

Sources confirmed police raided the family-owned agency on Smith St, reportedly previously known as Harvey World Travel Darwin which has been in business for 24 years, due to “alleged fraudulent activity”, however no arrests were made, according to various papers’ reports.

Saturday’s raid is the latest on a string of similar raids on other agencies in NT speculated to be rorting the NT Pensioner and Carer Concession Scheme.

So far the raids have resulted in two former agency owners being charged, with the first, Xana Kamitsis sentenced to three years and 11 months in prison – suspended after 18 months – for rorting the scheme and corruptly providing a political staffer with benefits.

The latest case being Katherine agency owner, Tennille Foley which pleaded guilty on Friday to defrauding the NT Government of around $40,000, admitting she learnt the practice of inflating invoices when she worked as a travel agent for another agency.

TW has attempted to contact Helloworld for comment.

Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

agency helloworld travel agent

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