Canceled charter flight to Almaty

[ExGingi]

A Romanian borrowed a Siddur it came back with one יקום פורקן missing

At least it came back. A you sure it was a Romanian?

[Yehuda57]

So the 787 that was passed around was not it (it came from me based on the flight number)

I have reached out to many trying to figure out what happened, and someone gave me a tail number, which the first results in Google gives you the clear picture

unfortunately simple due diligence wasn't done. Hope everyone at some point gets their refund (Many people that booked have no clue about this and are praising the organizers for trying to do this...)

Seems to me from your posts that the organizers meant well but got scammed, and responded by being naively hopeful instead of coming to terms with their blunder and coming clean to the customers ASAP.

What are signs a regular shmoe can look out for with these charters to ensure they aren't being run by scammers or well-meaning people who are getting scammed? Perhaps a clear PSA can bring awareness and hopefully prevent people from getting scammed.

[UKinNYS]

request REAL information eg. airline/ broker info etc.

Seems to me from your posts that the organizers meant well but got scammed, and responded by being naively hopeful instead of coming to terms with their blunder and coming clean to the customers ASAP.
What are signs a regular shmoe can look out for with these charters to ensure they aren't being run by scammers or well-meaning people who are getting scammed? Perhaps a clear PSA can bring awareness and hopefully prevent people from getting scammed.

[chff]

Seems to me from your posts that the organizers meant well but got scammed, and responded by being naively hopeful instead of coming to terms with their blunder and coming clean to the customers ASAP.

What are signs a regular shmoe can look out for with these charters to ensure they aren't being run by scammers or well-meaning people who are getting scammed? Perhaps a clear PSA can bring awareness and hopefully prevent people from getting scammed.

Many people have told me they warned the organizers

To people that (want to..) organize a charter, always request to do which "airline" is operating, and with a simple Google search, You should be able to know if it's a legit company (I would really like to know which airline they "thought" they have)

And people that book a charter, same simple question, which airline? If it can not be answered (especially within a week to the flight) then stay away

[Yehuda57]

request REAL information eg. airline/ broker info etc.

And people that book a charter, same simple question, which airline? If it can not be answered (especially within a week to the flight) then stay away

Really? The broker can't just name a legit airline?

[Something Fishy]

A Romanian borrowed a Siddur it came back with one יקום פורקן missing

In Romania they don't steal the afikoman on Pesach, כדי שישאלו התינוקות.

[chff]

Really? The broker can't just name a legit airline?

just like all the email scammers can't spell correctly, the scammer here didn't even name a legit airline

[ExGingi]

Side question: Is the Romanian reputation related to Roma people (aka Gypsies)?

[Yehuda57]

just like all the email scammers can't spell correctly, the scammer here didn't even name a legit airline

Email scammers often misspell on purpose. They want people who will fall for their story, and they have more success with people who arent bothered/don't realize bad spelling and grammar.

I understand they didn't do so this time, but let's say next year someone advertises a charter to Almaty and I ask what airline it is, how hard can it be for a shady broker to name a legit airline?

[ExGingi]

Email scammers often misspell on purpose. They want people who will fall for their story, and they have more success with people who arent bothered/don't realize bad spelling and grammar.

I understand they didn't do so this time, but let's say next year someone advertises a charter to Almaty and I ask what airline it is, how hard can it be for a shady broker to name a legit airline?

Start off with only dealing with domestic wires (or at least to countries with a track record of at least 70 years of free market and proper legal system).

[chff]

I understand they didn't do so this time, but let's say next year someone advertises a charter to Almaty and I ask what airline it is, how hard can it be for a shady broker to name a legit airline?

Good Question - obviously don't work with shady people you find on the internet....

[chff]

Start off with only dealing with domestic wires (or at least to countries with a track record of at least 70 years of free market and proper legal system).

you can get ruined with domestic wires as well

and the charter business there aren't too many options, and most are not US based

[Yehuda57]

Start off with only dealing with domestic wires (or at least to countries with a track record of at least 70 years of free market and proper legal system).

Good Question - obviously don't work with shady people you find on the internet....

So this is good advice for the organizers, not the general public.

you can get ruined with domestic wires as well

and the charter business there aren't too many options, and most are not US based

It seems to me as the lesson is not to trust charters at all as there is no easy way for the general public to know if the organizers are scammers or being scammed.

[chff]

It seems to me as the lesson is not to trust charters at all as there is no easy way for the general public to know if the organizers are scammers or being scammed.

in these 2 incidents (Uman 2016 & Almaty 2022) it's had all the signs for the public, as no one was able to be told what airline, flight number, terminal etc

[chff]

It seems to me as the lesson is not to trust charters at all as there is no easy way for the general public to know if the organizers are scammers or being scammed.

There are many charters around the world, pretty common Israel>Uman every year, but every ad has the airline and a time listed

[tmendy226]

“Hi,

I am reaching out again to share that we have not yet received back the funds paid to the charter co. for our trip to Almaty.
 
At this point it appears that we were defrauded by the charter company in Romania.

We are working with the authorities (Secret Service, FBI, Europol, Interpol and local Romanian officials) to pursue all efforts for repayment. We also filed a legal action in Romania.
 
I thank you for your patience and I will share what I hope to be positive news as it develops.

I remain hopeful that we will all get our funds returned thru the many efforts of collection that we are pursuing.

As you know I'm hurt by these events since I only had the best of intentions.

Sincerely, “

[Ver hut gazugt]

“Hi,

I am reaching out again to share that we have not yet received back the funds paid to the charter co. for our trip to Almaty.
 
At this point it appears that we were defrauded by the charter company in Romania.

We are working with the authorities (Secret Service, FBI, Europol, Interpol and local Romanian officials) to pursue all efforts for repayment. We also filed a legal action in Romania.
 
I thank you for your patience and I will share what I hope to be positive news as it develops.

I remain hopeful that we will all get our funds returned thru the many efforts of collection that we are pursuing.

As you know I'm hurt by these events since I only had the best of intentions.

Sincerely, “

I once got scammed for 300 bucks I felt like total loser for it. It took me a long while to get over it. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be scammed in public like this. 

[chff]

“Hi,

I am reaching out again to share that we have not yet received back the funds paid to the charter co. for our trip to Almaty.
 
At this point it appears that we were defrauded by the charter company in Romania.

We are working with the authorities (Secret Service, FBI, Europol, Interpol and local Romanian officials) to pursue all efforts for repayment. We also filed a legal action in Romania.
 
I thank you for your patience and I will share what I hope to be positive news as it develops.

I remain hopeful that we will all get our funds returned thru the many efforts of collection that we are pursuing.

As you know I'm hurt by these events since I only had the best of intentions.

Sincerely, “

Best of luck

[yesitsme]

@chff what about domestic charter flights is I a different animal?

[neveryou]

“Hi,

I am reaching out again to share that we have not yet received back the funds paid to the charter co. for our trip to Almaty.
 
At this point it appears that we were defrauded by the charter company in Romania.

We are working with the authorities (Secret Service, FBI, Europol, Interpol and local Romanian officials) to pursue all efforts for repayment. We also filed a legal action in Romania.
 
I thank you for your patience and I will share what I hope to be positive news as it develops.

I remain hopeful that we will all get our funds returned thru the many efforts of collection that we are pursuing.

As you know I'm hurt by these events since I only had the best of intentions.

Sincerely, “

This is still part of stage 1 of getting scammed, thinking that you're going to get your money back.

They should move on from stage 1 and figure out what they're going to do with all the people that paid. 

It's very sad on the organizers that they got scammed, I feel bad. But it's time to move on and figure out what's next.