A Portuguese family fell victim to a scam while trying to organize a vacation at a hotel in Varadero, Cuba. The victim, Patricia Lima, planned the trip for 36 family members and spent over 100,000 euros on flight and accommodation bookings through the agency Viagens Top, operated by the company Detalhes Memoráveis.
However, just days before their flight to Cuba, she discovered that neither the airline tickets nor the hotel reservations existed, leaving her family without their much-anticipated vacation and a significant financial loss. Patricia told CNN Portugal that she became suspicious when the agency evaded her requests for travel documentation.
She verified that there were no records of her group on the passenger list for the flight to Cuba. Immediately, she filed a complaint with the Public Security Police (PSP), only to find out that they were not the only ones scammed out of money and a happy summer dream.
More families and close friends were also defrauded by the same agency, having booked other trips such as cruises or honeymoon reservations that never took place. Since June 2024, the flow of tourists from Portugal to Cuba has increased due to weekly flights by World2Fly, which will continue until September 12.
Viagens Top, a recognized agency in the National Tourism Registry since 2017, has been operating exclusively online since 2020. Despite multiple complaints, their website remains active. Local authorities stated that an investigation has begun.
The first fraud cases linked to this company emerged in December 2022, when a client paid for a trip for five couples to Bahia, Brazil, and never received a refund after the reservation was canceled due to a supposed COVID-19 outbreak. Turismo de Portugal, the entity responsible for regulating travel agencies, indicated that these cases are being investigated by the Authority for Economic and Food Safety (ASAE). To date, more than a dozen complaints have been filed against the agency, which is under investigation.
Details on the Viagens Top Travel Scam
Given the serious nature of the scam involving Viagens Top, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers to help readers understand the situation better.
How did Patricia Lima discover the scam?
Patricia Lima became suspicious when the agency evaded her requests for travel documentation. She then verified that there were no records of her group on the passenger list for the flight to Cuba.
What actions did Patricia Lima take after discovering the scam?
She immediately filed a complaint with the Public Security Police (PSP) and found out that other families and friends were also defrauded by the same agency.
What is being done to investigate Viagens Top?
Local authorities have begun an investigation, and Turismo de Portugal indicated that the cases are being investigated by the Authority for Economic and Food Safety (ASAE).