Travel company changes name to commit fraud.

After pocketing hundreds of millions, even billions of dong in tour bookings from tourists, these travel companies change their names to continue their fraudulent activities. These companies are not on the list of licensed travel agencies.

Tourists should seek out travel fairs and reputable travel companies with transparent information to purchase tours - Illustration photo: Q. DINH

Following media reports that United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company (Tan Son Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) defrauded nearly 20 people out of billions of VND when they purchased tour packages to Türkiye, many discovered that the company had previously used several different names, all run by the same owner. After each fraud scandal, the company adopted a new name and continued its fraudulent activities.

The file of one of the companies in this "ecosystem" has been transferred to the police for investigation and processing.

"Changing names" after each scam.

On September 22nd, speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper, Mr. H.M.D. (61 years old, Tan Binh ward, Ho Chi Minh City), along with a group of three friends, stated that they are at risk of losing 112 million VND after purchasing a tour from United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company. They said that nearly a month has passed and they do not know when they will get their money back.

Explaining his reason for choosing tours from United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company, whose CEO is Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin (32 years old, residing in Hoang Mai, Hanoi ), Mr. HMĐ said that in 2022 he was a customer of Mr. Tin with 5 domestic and international tours, including a trip to Australia. However, the company operated under various names such as Xuyen Viet Travel Company, European Union Travel Company (Eutourist), and now United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company.

"I got Mr. Tin's Zalo contact after our first trip. But for subsequent tours, Mr. Tin messaged me directly. When planning a trip, I thought it was best to book with someone I knew. When signing the contract, even though I noticed the company name had changed, we didn't suspect anything, just assumed it was someone we knew," Mr. HMĐ added.

Previously, in 2023, the European Union Tourism Company Limited, whose English name is Eutourist (5 Cuu Long Street, Tan Binh Ward), was accused by the leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City Printing Association of engaging in fraudulent business practices.

According to the printing association, a company received over 1.2 billion VND from customers who purchased all-inclusive tour packages to visit the All in Print China 2023 exhibition (a professional international exhibition on printing technology and equipment) in Shanghai, China, but then... disappeared.

Two years later, Eutourist changed its name to United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company (Republic Building, 18 Cong Hoa Street, Tan Son Hoa Ward), with Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin serving as the CEO.

The practice of businesses changing their names to "piggyback" on the names of legitimate businesses or those found to be engaging in fraudulent practices is not new in the area.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, president of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, a tour guide once established a travel company with a name "similar" to the company where the guide was working.

After establishing a legal entity, this tour guide lured regular customers of the legitimate travel company to his own company, the one that was imitating the brand. Remarkably, this company, using the counterfeit name, even registered as an ASEAN exemplary enterprise in an award presented by an agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade , and was honored and awarded a trophy...

"After receiving numerous complaints from customers, we submitted a written request to revoke and withdraw the title. However, shortly afterward, this business 'changed its name'."
"To continue operations, we also heavily promoted many promotional tours," Ms. Khanh said.

Were the regulatory authorities bypassed or were they negligent?

According to the 2017 Tourism Law, tourism business is a conditional business sector. In addition to a tourism business license, enterprises must also obtain a license to operate in the tourism sector from the state management agency for tourism.

In the travel sector, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration issues international travel agency licenses, while provincial and city-level tourism management agencies issue domestic travel agency licenses. According to information from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, there are currently 7,211 businesses operating tourism services in the city, including 1,815 travel agencies.

However, in an interview with us, Mr. Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Tourism Company, said that the proliferation of tourism companies has left those working in the tourism industry feeling overwhelmed. Although it is a conditional business sector, in reality, it is not difficult for tourism businesses to register for travel agency operations.

Accordingly, only a standard qualification is required, not a high one, leading to the proliferation of small travel companies lacking capital and expertise. According to Mr. Thanh, a major loophole in the tourism industry that regulatory agencies haven't addressed yet is that travel companies found to be involved in fraudulent activities immediately change their names but continue to use their old travel agency licenses and organize tours as usual.

"In principle, when a tourism business changes its name, a new travel agency license must be applied for. However, in practice, when faced with controversy, businesses will request a change in the name information on their business license but will not apply for a new travel agency license, thus violating the law. Nevertheless, customers find it difficult to detect this when purchasing tours," Mr. Thanh said.

Meanwhile, according to a tourism expert, the fact that a travel company repeatedly changes its name and continues to operate normally after each scandal involving customer fraud shows laxity in management and the need to re-establish order in tourism operations... and this is the responsibility of the tourism management agency.

According to this person, the state management agency for the tourism industry should have organized inspections and supervision of the activities of travel agencies. In addition to promoting destinations and tourism, the tourism management agency needs to focus on educating the public to be more vigilant against the fraudulent business practices of tourism enterprises.

"In some cases where businesses are accused of fraud, the tourism management agency needs to coordinate with the police and security forces to thoroughly investigate and handle the matter in order to protect the rights of tourists, as well as the reputation of the tourism industry in the area," this person said.

Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin "lured" customers into buying tours by creating a scenario where customers suddenly canceled, so he offered to transfer their tickets - Screenshot: THAO THUONG

It's important to thoroughly research the travel company before booking a tour.

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ newspaper , the director of a large travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City admitted that there are thousands of travel companies nationwide, but not all of them guarantee quality.

Therefore, before booking a tour, tourists need to be aware of many things. For example, carefully research travel companies by asking friends and relatives who have previously purchased tours; check the website of the tourism management agency, search for the company's name on Google, on social media, etc. Even going directly to the headquarters or office is necessary to avoid encountering fake addresses.

"Before finalizing a tour purchase, tourists should request to see the operating license, domestic travel business license, and international travel business license if purchasing an overseas tour; check the history of the travel company; and be wary of tours with 'shockingly low prices' compared to reality...", this person noted.

Operating international travel services without a license!

Responding to Tuoi Tre newspaper regarding the frequent "name changes" of travel companies owned by Mr. Ho Ngoc Tin, a representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism stated that the company was initially named Xuyen Viet Investment and Business Co., Ltd., operating in Hanoi. Its international travel service business license was issued by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration in March 2019. However, in February 2022, the company's international travel service business license was revoked.

"Furthermore, information and data regarding the registration and licensing of travel businesses by the European Union Tourism Company Limited (Eutourist) and United KingDoom International Travel Service Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) could not be found on the Vietnam National Tourism Administration's Travel Management System website," this person stated.

Regarding Eutourist specifically, in November 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism issued a document transferring the case file to the Ho Chi Minh City Police for consideration and resolution due to customer complaints of fraud. In addition, the agency has repeatedly warned the public to be wary and vigilant against fraudulent schemes in the tourism sector.

"When buying tour packages, tourists should prioritize choosing reputable travel companies," this official advised, adding that the agency will continue to coordinate with relevant departments and sectors to strengthen inspection, rectification, and strict handling of violating businesses.

In addition, this agency will also coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Finance and other relevant agencies to find appropriate solutions or propose adjustments and amendments to central ministries and agencies in policies and legal regulations to ensure a healthy tourism business environment.

THAO THUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cong-ty-du-lich-doi-ten-de-lua-dao-20250925232440066.htm