Above: Aster Tareken says she is in shock after her ordeal.
“More victims are surfacing in connection with a local travel
agency that suddenly closed its doors earlier this summer –
leaving an untold number of customers holding the bag.”
(KOMO News)
Watch the Story
Video – Problems at Travel Agency in Seattle:
Ethiopia-Bound Ticketholders Stuck
Given that he has been in the travel busniness for over a decade, it is absolutely possible that he may have a legit family emergency that required him to take such a risky action. I would not put judgment on him just yet. But it is till not justifiable and illegal to take peoples money and run with it. I feel sorry for those who got shorthanded, but it does not hurt to hear the guy’s story too.
DJ the guy was in business for this long because of our habesha society’s acceptance and tolerance of bad business practices. I dealt with this business back in the late 90’s and stopped as soon as I experienced lies and mistreatment the first time. I know a couple of other friends who did the same, but somehow a lot of other people in the Ethiopian community in Seattle seem to think they don’t have any other options, but to go there for their tickets.
I feel sorry for all the people that were let in the cold with his scam. I know quite a few people know that lost their money. Some were already in Ethiopia, but their return tickets were invalid. I personally know a family of four who had to purchase their return tickets from Addis because of this travel agent canceled their tickets.
Its very strange, because he has been in this business for long time and he was well known in the society. Its hard to accept that he just escape with few people’s money. I hope he or his family are OK. May be he is a victim by somebody else to harm him and to let people believe that he left with their money…hope truth will come out soon…
why are you guys giving the guy the benefit of doubt. there is no doubt. the guy canceled someone’s reservation and took the money. simple case of theft. I don’t care how long he’s been doing this.
Yes, I agree sosoi. It totally don’t make sense why people are giving him a free pass for his criminal action. This sort of attitude is what allowed him to come this far in the first place. The Ethiopian community in Seattle needs to come together on this case and take a stand.
Ppl, instead of collecting donations on his behalf report, take action report this fraud to the police. For once do the right thing.
Sounds like he got desperate and took off.
Hey people why are you afraid to say a crook crooK? There is no any justification for him to run with his clients money. Let the law takes its course and he should face the consequencies.
This is totally insane. This guy is criminal and scammer. I don’t understand why some people are trying to save him from the hell. By now, this guy should be in jail. Come on ppl, stop being nice for criminals. He collected money from hardworking ppl (12=hours a day) to fulfill their life and want to visit their beloved country. he should be locked up in jail for what he done.
If he has a little bit of business ethics left in him, he could have called those who bought a plane ticket and told them that he is disappearing from the face of the earth, because….I am sure most of his customers would have forgiven him. You know how forgiving we Ethiopians are.
I hear he is in Addis!!!! He has opened up a business that has the space needle in the title! What a shame!
Hey, guys it is every traveler’s duty to verify the purchase of a ticket with the Airline to cover self from crooks like this guy. Believe me he may think he capitalized on this and live in ADDIS peacefully but may be for a short time because we will make him pay for his deed. I am sorry for his family but he is a kind of guy who never believes there are people who are better than him.