Anyone heard of final-flights.com?

[FoFuey]

Hi all,

I'm a total newbie here and just joined mainly because I made a booking for a ticket for my father through final-flights.com. I'm very skeptical about whether this website is a scam or not. I've been in contact with Andrew Vezeley for the last few days, he's been quiet responsive and even sent responses in the evening times.

There are many points which suggest that this website is a scam.
- They gave me 2 different quotes when I made the same booking under 2 different names
- Andrew seems quiet complacent about me making payments. It took them days to give me details on how to make payments
- When I went to the bank to make payments (I didn't want to pay using credit card and/or bank account just in case), the people at St.George said that the bank account details I provided was related to kid's account

However, here's where everything goes fuzzy. I was sent an e-ticket confirmation from QANTAS and QBE insurance. I've been in contact with QANTAS twice now and they have confirmed that the tickets were valid, is registered under the correct name AND has been paid for. They have also mentioned that if there were to be last minute changes to the ticket, it will have to be paid for.

My father is scheduled to leave tomorrow. I've yet to make payments to Final Flights. What to do????

OMG, don't do it!!! Seriously.

 

[mdy_118]

Okay, so I emailed him (Andrew Vezeley from final-flight.com) earlier this morning and wrote:

"So if we go ahead with the booking and final-flight issues tickets, I will be able to cross reference the booking ref number with V Australia and they will state that booking is confirmed and paid for?? Then I pay final-flights?"

I haven't heard back from him, considering he was right on when I was making inquiries.

I would assume, that once you make the transfer, poof, gone is your money along with the held flights.

I've been asking him for another bank details because the one he gave me led to some kid's account but he hasn't responded still. I'm very paranoid especially since my dad's departure is tomorrow. I'm guessing QANTAS isn't as helpful as V Australia since they sounded pretty annoyed that we have called to confirm a flight which has clearly been paid for and booked under my dad's name. I still haven't even paid for it and my dad's name is still on the booking reference when I check via QANTAS website.

What we are thinking of doing is perhaps trying to go to the airport tomorrow and see how he goes? If he does get to go, I'll sort out the payments. I can already check in online since it is less than 24 hours until the flight but I don't know whether this is a good idea.

 

[QF WP]

My spider senses are tingling that this is at best, very very dubious and at worst a scam.

So many things are missing....it's starting to quack, walk and smell like a duck!

 

[moa999]

Google indexing:
final-flights --- now reurns as No 5
Andrew Vezeley --- still not indexed

If Qantas is letting you OLCI then I think that means their system is showing it as Paid and Ticketed (at least on some credit card).
Generally a reservation that is not ticketed will let you seat allocate, but not upgrade or check-in

I wonder if he is just booking online using stolen credit cards then taking cash payments.

 

[FoFuey]

I've been asking him for another bank details because the one he gave me led to some kid's account but he hasn't responded still. I'm very paranoid especially since my dad's departure is tomorrow. I'm guessing QANTAS isn't as helpful as V Australia since they sounded pretty annoyed that we have called to confirm a flight which has clearly been paid for and booked under my dad's name. I still haven't even paid for it and my dad's name is still on the booking reference when I check via QANTAS website.

What we are thinking of doing is perhaps trying to go to the airport tomorrow and see how he goes? If he does get to go, I'll sort out the payments. I can already check in online since it is less than 24 hours until the flight but I don't know whether this is a good idea.

QANTAS won't even look at it and make sure that no changes or cancelations can be made? I called QANTAS as well to ask them about this possible scam and they were NOT helpful and actually quite rude. He bluntly said, "I'm just here to book flights for you, if you are unsure about the website, don't book with them. It's simple!!"

Ahole LOL

 

[samh004]

Isn’t it more likely that the flights have been paid for with a stolen credit card, and he’s just making whatever he can in a bank transfer? By offering them at a discount, he lures more people in, but he doesn’t need to then cancel the tickets as it makes no difference to him…

I say check-in now, [-]as usually after you check-in the booking moves to a different stage. Additionally you could check the box (accidentally ) that you have dangerous goods or whatever, which usually locks you out from changing anything else, and you have to head to the airport to see someone at a desk. If you’re locked out, he probably is too.[/-]

I wonder if he is just booking online using stolen credit cards then taking cash payments.

Beat me to it, makes the most sense.

If this were the case and I was a bit more unscrupulous than I am, I’d jump on the chance to book a J ticket around Australia in the next few days and earn points/SC at a fraction of the cost. But I couldn’t do that…

Also, as for the kids account, he’s either a kid himself, or he’s sussed out the fact that kids accounts earn a much higher interest rate than adults accounts.

 

[QF WP]

But if you presume that he seat could have been fraudulently obtained (knowing what we think is going to happen), does the person going along with it become culpable as well.

If it seems too good to be true - it probably is. A fool and their money are soon parted (I could keep going).

I would be keeping my bookings with valid TA's mdy_118. Isn't that right Travel Guru

I'd be contacting SCAM Watch - sure sounds like a social networking based scam

Hmmm, Andrew Vezeley's LinkedIn page is fresh as well

Connections: 0 connections

 

[samh004]

But if you presume that he seat could have been fraudulently obtained (knowing what we think is going to happen), does the person going along with it become culpable as well.

That’s a good point, is ignorance really bliss? If you don’t know for sure, or if you suspect what is going on, are you protected by the law, or guilty of breaking it? I’m no lawyer, but it raises some interesting questions.

 

[mdy_118]

I am confused too. I hate that the new technology age actually makes us less trusting to other human beings and new forms of crime exist and created. He could very well be a genuine guy who managed to purchase tickets at a discounted price because of cancellations or last minute sales. But because of fraud and scams, we lost complete faith in people.

I'm not sure what to do because my dad is more than keen to go tomorrow as we have some family emergency that he needs to attend to. But we haven't been able to afford it from our local flight centre etc since the prices are twice as much.

Everything seems so legit yet suspicious! If this is a real scam, I'll be sure to warn you all and I'm definitely going to report this to ScamWatch and ACCC.

 

[markis10]

I say check-in now, as usually after you check-in the booking moves to a different stage. Additionally you could check the box (accidentally ) that you have dangerous goods or whatever, which usually locks you out from changing anything else, and you have to head to the airport to see someone at a desk. If you’re locked out, he probably is too.

Incorrect, checking in has no effect on the booking whatsoever, it does not change it at all, on numerous occasions I have had to change or cancel a flight after OLCI with no issues at all. All checking in does is raise changes in the departures control software, not the booking, the booking only gets modified when you are confirmed to be on your way and in the air. Doing OLCI guarantees you nothing.

 

[samh004]

Incorrect, checking in has no effect on the booking whatsoever, it does not change it at all, on numerous occasions I have had to change or cancel a flight after OLCI with no issues at all. All checking in does is raise changes in the departures control software, not the booking, the booking only gets modified when you are confirmed to be on your way and in the air. Doing OLCI guarantees you nothing.

Ahh well, I reckon it’s a stolen credit card anyway, so it’s not likely to be cancelled, at least by this guy…

 

[anat0l]

QANTAS won't even look at it and make sure that no changes or cancelations can be made? I called QANTAS as well to ask them about this possible scam and they were NOT helpful and actually quite rude. He bluntly said, "I'm just here to book flights for you, if you are unsure about the website, don't book with them. It's simple!!"

Ahole LOL

Well unfortunately the person at QF is quite right. You are a bit audacious in presuming that they would be aware of such a thing or to put the onus of proof of legitimacy onto them.

There was probably no better way to put the response so to call the operator completely rude and a -hole is a bit much. QF wouldn't tell you if any TA - real or not - is reliable, unless it hit national news headlines. And anyone else on the street would tell you the same thing as you heard over the phone. The operator was put between a rock and hard place; not entirely fair.

The best thing you could've done with QF is confirm the booking, establish how it was paid for and/or who booked it. They would probably tell you in the latter that its a TA booking and they should be able to read off who booked the ticket.


All in all, hope you get to the bottom of this.

 

[Danger]

Well unfortunately the person at QF is quite right. You are a bit audacious in presuming that they would be aware of such a thing or to put the onus of proof of legitimacy onto them.

I had a difference response than FoFuey with QF. I phoned the premium number and told the agent I wanted to speak to someone about a potentially fraudulent website purporting to sell very cheap QF fares. She got her supervisor and I gave her the details. The supervisor added that "it sounds like" a web-based operator they've heard of, although she made no comment as to final-flights itself.

 

[thewinchester]

I'm with Lindsay Wilson on this, everything posted so far including the research and background checking people have been doing makes this sound more and more like a scam.

Looking at the registration information, the domain was registered via Yahoo, and it's hosted on HostDime.com, Inc. out of Orlando, FL, US.

Research into HostDime indicates significant complaints, particually with the frequent hosting of sites associated with money laundering, fraud and hate speech. There are also documented cases where they have not upheld their own acceptable user policies and cut off sites confirmed as participating or conducting illegal activities.

Everything about this site screams run for the hills, and specially based on some of the prices he's been offering - the old addage of "if it's too good to be true, it proberbly is" applies.

I would strongly advise that this site should be avoided at all costs. The bona fides of the business cannot be verified, it fails to comply with the registration, licensing and legal reqirements for Australian-based travel agents, and no credit card facilities are provided giving consumers relevant recourse should things go south.

If you have already booked with this provider, I would strongly recommend contacting your local Police station's fraud unit to investegate.

 

[NM]

If the flights are booked using a stolen credit card, then while you might make the outbound flight I expect by the time you check-in for the return flight you may find you are greeted by a pair of handcuffs and some explaining to do with the local constabulary. Its only a matter of time until the credit card owner finds the fraudulent transaction and the credit card company contacts Qantas who cancels the booking and flags it as fraudulent.

Now, this is assuming its booked with a stolen credit card. And I cannot draw any alternate conclusion based on the information in this thread.

So if it was me, I would be walking away and making fresh, legitimate bookings for flights I need to take.

 

[Misha]

I said it a few pages ago, and I say it again - shonky. One only has to go to the first post and read along to see how this has to be (99.99%) dodge. If not, then we are all headed on RTW trips with F fares in the next couple of weeks.

Ignorant or not - fly with them and I would imagine you are culpable too. Especially after posting queries all over this forum

Only way I would suggest your Dad board that flight tomorrow (if he is allowed to) would be if it were a one-way ticket.

Anyone who runs a buisiness like this, such as having credit facility logos on their website but not taking CC payments has to be

a) committing fraud,
b) an idiot, and
c) raking it in - he would be minted

... should come in handy too. A good lawyer costs a lot :mrgreen:

 

[NM]

Only way I would suggest your Dad board that flight tomorrow (if he is allowed to) would be if it were a one-way ticket.

And if its an international flight, its his details in the booking including passport number. So its not like the authorities cannot come looking for the passenger after the flight.

 

[mdy_118]

I agree.

What would you consider the best option for us to do now? Should I report this to ScamWatch, local police station? ACCC?

It is very tactless of QANTAS to not follow it through even though I repetitively explained my concerns. They should at least attempt to investigate it considering it is their own company that will suffer.

 

[Craigie]

He also could be running it ponzi-style.

For the first few customers, he legitimately books them a ticket for which he loses money on. He gets x number of people happy, gets them to either book again or tell friends. For the next period of time, he gets 10x the customers, all of who pay him without too much trouble, he books with fraudulent credit cards and disappears with a few hundred thousand.

Thats how i'd do it anyways... and that makes me a bad person

There's so many things wrong with that website its laughable.


To the posters who have made bookings with this guy i'd be contacting the authorities and booking yourself new flights through legitimate channels. It's tempting to try and run with it because there's a chance you'll get something for nothing, but it could get ugly quickly and you'll be sorry.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

He could very well be a genuine guy who managed to purchase tickets at a discounted price because of cancellations or last minute sales.

I don't know of any such practice of the airlines either giving any agent hugely discounted seats due to last minute cancellations or super cheap prices for last minute sales & even if there were such a thing you would think a chain such as Flight Centres (with all their buying clout) would have access to it or they'd be hell to pay.

I think that may happen more in the USA or Europe where there are zillions of charter flights to holiday destinations but IMHO that's a long way from happening on our shores.

I wish you all the best of outcomes given the difficult situation it would appear you're in.