Family loses thousands in Garden Grove travel agent scam; additional victims sought

GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (KABC) -- Garden Grove police are looking for additional victims after arresting a travel agent who is suspected of taking money for vacations, but never actually booking them.

Every year, the Gomez family looks forward to their summer vacation, and this year, 15 of their relatives were supposed to go with them to Cancun over the Fourth of July weekend.

"We called three days prior to departure - the airline to check our seat arrangement - and we found out that the flights were never paid for," Carlos Gomez said.

Gomez said the hotel never received the more than $13,000 they paid their travel agent for their seven-night stay. Garden Grove police said their agent, Abdel Rojas, scammed them and several other families.

"He would create an itinerary with a confirmation number with certain airlines and hotels and stuff, but he never actually booked them," Lt. Bob Bogue said.

Rojas is behind bars and accused of fraud. Police said the losses so far total at least $50,000. Gomez said his family had booked trips through Rojas for nine years and never had a problem until this year.

"I never thought this gentleman who we had been doing business with for so long had the audacity to do this," Gomez said.

AGS Services Travel, where Rojas worked, is now closed. A sign on the door tells customers who bought tickets to call the Garden Grove police.

Detectives believe there may be more people who have yet to come forward. Anyone who has more information or may be a victim is urged to call the Garden Grove Police Department.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said the family was from Costa Mesa, and that Costa Mesa police were investigating. Garden Grove police are investigating, and the family is from Downey.