Travel company changes name to scam

After each time they “take” hundreds of millions, even billions of dong in tour booking money from tourists, the travel company “changes its name” to continue the scam. These companies are not on the list of licensed travel agencies.

Tourists should go to tourism fairs, reputable travel companies with transparent information to buy tours - Illustration: Q.DINH

After the news of United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company (Tan Son Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) defrauding nearly 20 people of billions of dong when buying tours to Türkiye was reported by the press, many people discovered that this company had had many different names and was run by the same boss. After each fraud scandal, this company had a new name and continued to... cheat.

The profile of one of the companies in this "ecosystem" has been transferred to the police for investigation and handling.

"Changing names" after each scam

On September 22, speaking with Tuoi Tre, Mr. HMĐ. (61 years old, Tan Binh ward, Ho Chi Minh City), along with a group of 3 friends who were at risk of losing 112 million VND when buying a tour from United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company, said that for nearly a month they still have not received their money and do not know when they will get it back.

Explaining the reason for choosing a tour from United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company, managed by Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin (32 years old, residing in Hoang Mai, Hanoi ), Mr. HMĐ. said that in 2022 he was Mr. Tin's customer with 5 domestic and international tours such as to Australia. But with names such as Xuyen Viet Travel Company, European Union Travel Company (Eutourist) and now United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company.

"I got Mr. Tin's Zalo after the first trip. But for the next tour, Mr. Tin texted me directly. When I had travel plans, I thought it was a familiar place so I bought. When signing the contract, even though we saw the company name changed, we were not cautious, thinking it was an acquaintance," Mr. HMĐ added.

Previously, in 2023, the European Union Tourism Company Limited, whose English name is Eutourist (No. 5 Cuu Long, Tan Binh Ward) was "accused" by the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Printing Association of fraudulent business practices.

According to the printing association, the business received more than 1.2 billion VND from customers who bought a package tour to visit the All in Print China 2023 exhibition (a professional international exhibition on printing technology and equipment) in Shanghai, China, but then... disappeared.

Two years later, Eutourist "changed its appearance" to become United KingDoom International Travel Services Joint Stock Company (Repulic building, No. 18 Cong Hoa, Tan Son Hoa ward), in which Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin holds the position of executive director.

The story of businesses "changing their names" to "copy" the names of legitimate businesses or those discovered to be fraudulent is not new in the area.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, president of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, a tour guide once set up a travel company "with a similar name" to the company where this tour guide is working.

After having a legal entity, this tour guide attracted the regular customers of the real travel company to his own company, the brand imitation unit. It is worth mentioning that the business imitating this name registered as a typical ASEAN business in the award of a unit under the Ministry of Industry and Trade and was honored and awarded a trophy...

"After receiving many complaints from customers, we wrote a document requesting to revoke and rescind the title. However, immediately after that, this business "changed its name"
To continue operating, we also "noisily" introduced many promotional tours," said Ms. Khanh.

Are regulators being bypassed or let down?

According to the 2017 Tourism Law, tourism business is a conditional business. In addition to a tourism business license, businesses must also be granted a license to operate in the tourism sector by the state tourism management agency.

In the tourism sector, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration issues international travel licenses and provincial and municipal tourism management agencies issue domestic travel licenses. According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, there are 7,211 tourism service businesses in the area, including 1,815 travel agencies.

However, speaking to us, Mr. Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Tourism Company, said that the mushrooming of tourism companies has made those working in the tourism industry feel "dizzy". Although it is a conditional business, in reality, it is not difficult for tourism businesses to register for travel activities.

Accordingly, only a standard degree is required, not a high requirement, so there is a proliferation of small travel companies that do not have the capacity in terms of capital, expertise... Also according to Mr. Thanh, the big loophole in the tourism industry that the management agencies have not managed in time is that when a travel company is discovered to be a fraud, it immediately changes its name but still "uses" the old travel operating license and still organizes tours as usual.

"In principle, when a tourism business changes its name, a new travel operating license must be applied for. But in reality, when there is a dispute, the business will request to change the name information in the business license but not apply for a new travel operating license, violating the law. However, it is difficult for customers to detect when buying a tour," Mr. Thanh said.

Meanwhile, according to a tourism expert, the fact that a travel company continuously "changes its name" and still operates normally after each time it gets involved in a scandal of defrauding customers shows laxity in management, re-establishing order in tourism activities... and this is the responsibility of the tourism management agency.

According to this person, the state management agency of the tourism industry should organize inspections and supervision of the activities of travel agencies. In addition to communicating about destinations and promoting tourism, the tourism management agency should pay attention to communicating to raise people's vigilance against the fraudulent business tricks of tourism businesses.

"In some cases where businesses are accused of fraud, tourism management agencies need to coordinate with police and security to inspect and handle the situation thoroughly to protect the rights of tourists, as well as the reputation of the tourism industry in the area," he said.

Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin "lures" customers into buying tours by saying that the customer suddenly canceled and had to transfer the ticket - Screenshot: THAO THUONG

You need to carefully research the travel company before booking a tour.

Speaking with Tuoi Tre , the director of a large travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City admitted that there are currently thousands of travel companies nationwide, but not all of them can guarantee quality.

Therefore, before booking a tour, tourists need to take note of many things. For example, carefully consult travel companies from friends and relatives who have bought tours; from the website of the tourism management agency, type in the keywords of the business to check the name on Google, on social networks... Even have to go directly to the headquarters, operating office to avoid encountering the case of "ghost" addresses.

"Before finalizing a tour purchase, tourists should ask the business to show them its operating license, domestic travel business license, and international travel business license if purchasing a foreign tour; check the history of the travel company; be wary of tours with "shocking discounts" compared to reality...", this person noted.

No license still operating international travel services!

Responding to Tuoi Tre regarding the continuous "name changes" of travel companies all owned by Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism said that the company was originally named Xuyen Viet Investment and Trading Company Limited operating in Hanoi. The international travel service business license of this company was issued by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in March 2019. However, by February 2022, this company's international travel service business license had been revoked.

"European Union Tourism Company Limited (Eutourist) and United KingDoom International Travel Services Joint Stock Company (HCMC) could not find any information or data on registration for travel business licenses on the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism's Travel Management System website," he said.

As for Eutourist, in November 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism issued a document transferring the case file to the Ho Chi Minh City Police for consideration and resolution because customers reported fraud. In addition, the agency has repeatedly warned people to be vigilant and vigilant against fraudulent tricks in the tourism sector.

"If you want to buy a tour, tourists need to prioritize choosing reputable travel companies," he advised, adding that the agency will continue to coordinate with departments and branches to strengthen inspection, rectify and strictly handle violating businesses.

In addition, this agency will also coordinate with the HCM City Department of Finance and relevant authorities to have appropriate solutions or recommend central ministries and branches to make adjustments and amendments to policies and legal regulations to ensure a healthy tourism business environment.

NEGOTIATION

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cong-ty-du-lich-doi-ten-de-lua-dao-20250925232440066.htm