LEWISVILLE — An Internet-based travel agency is under police investigation for taking reservations and more than $40,000 in deposits — then failing to book vacations for its customers.
Brooke Herold, 32, said she is a victim of the travel agency which operates on-line as www.roadslesstaken.com.
"You know, they may be having a hard time financially, but there's a lot of people out there having a hard time financially," Herold said. "They just need to stop taking peoples' money if they can't send them on the trip."
Herold and her husband successfully booked their honeymoon through Roadslesstaken.com four years ago. A couple runs the Web site out of their apartment in Lewisville.
Then in January 2009, Herold booked another beach vacation — this time to Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean.
But Herold said she and her husband canceled the trip during a contractual window before departure and were promised a refund of $1,950.
She said she hasn't seen a dime of it.
"I'm sure there's people out much more than I am, but it's just not fair," Herold said. "It's vacation money you work hard for."
She isn't alone.
Lewisville Police told News 8 that detectives know of at least 15 victims just like her from across the country who claim they have been taken for more than $40,000 by Roadslesstaken.com.
"They are booking trips on-line through this travel agency, and the trips are not getting booked, and the travel agency is taking their money," Lewisville police Capt. Kevin Deaver said.
Records show these are expensive trips, costing several thousand dollars.
Capt. Deaver said detectives suspect there could be as many as 50 victims nationwide like Herold who are either awaiting refunds or confirmation for trips they haven't yet taken.
Police said the owners of the Web site have cooperated, and have even tried to repay several customers -- but not Herold.
The case could go to the District Attorney within weeks, Capt. Deaver said.
Two phone calls to the travel agency's owners were not returned on Tuesday.
E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com
