Scam gets cruise-goers ticket to nowhere

[Jason]

Scam gets cruise-goers ticket to nowhere

Grant Boxleitner, NBC2 News

LEE COUNTY: Nearly forty people wrote checks for what they thought was a four day cruise to the Bahamas. What they got was a ticket to nowhere. The victims are each out hundreds of dollars and want answers.

Betsy McNeil was all set to cruise to the Bahamas. She received a flier via fax and made out a check for $318 to two women who were organizing the 4-day trip.

McNeil thought everything was fine, but it wasn't.

"I even went online and got my boarding pass, which wasn't any good," said McNeil.

McNeil didn't know it yet, but she and as many as 40 others who paid for the cruise were victims of a scam.

According to sheriff's reports, the organizer cashed their checks then paid for the cruise using someone else's credit card.

Deputies say the credit card's owner alerted Carnival, saying the transaction was bogus.

Rocky Graziano handles bad check complaints for the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

"Everybody's packing, excited going on a cruise and they get a phone call from Carnival saying the only bon voyage they're going to do is to their money. There's no cruise," said Graziano.

The suspect in this case is 40-year-old Joan Dobbs. When deputies went to talk to her, they found out she was at the Lee County Jail on unrelated charges.

Deputies are gathering evidence against Dobbs, but she has not been charged in connection with the cruise scam.

McNeil filed a criminal complaint against Dobbs.

"I think she embezzled people. A lot of them" said McNeil.

Bernie Auclair paid $636 for two cruises. He won't be departing on the ship Friday.

"I can't afford to lose that kind of money. I'm on a fixed income," said Auclair.

Joan Dobbs also prepared payroll for the Moose Lodge in Fort Myers. The administrator wouldn't talk to us on camera, but said money started disappearing and checks started bouncing while she was in charge.

Moose Administrator Pat Dimarco says he's turned evidence over to the Moose's legal department.

"Plus we have other people and businesses who have come forward, saying they also ripped off of much more money on business problems. So it's a pretty big case," said Graziano.

As for the cruise, McNeil is not letting her lost money keep her from setting sail.

"I paid again and I got my real tickets, so I am going on the cruise," said McNeil.

"We need more people to come forward and say that they lost the money. $318 is a lot of money to lose," said Graziano.

Other victims we spoke to by phone say they're still angry at losing money. Deputies are urging anyone who may have been a victim in this cruise case to contact the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 239-477-1000.

[mercedes]

That is too bad, I get those faxes all the time and just put them in the trash.

[rogue]

This is one reason that I go through a TA for all of my cruises. I know her well and she knows us. She'll get us exactly what we want.

[jacketwatch]

Thats terrible. I hope some fo the $$ can be returned but I doubt it. At least the scammer is in the slammer!

[Mebert]

Beware of faxes and e-mails from companies you don't know.

[Jimmykaboots]

Yea no kidding, i'd rather book through a TA too.

[Suzila]

Me too...that's terrible. I've booked directly through the cruise line and also through our TA. I've never booked with anyone else who just emails me with their 'specials'.