Written by Chillie Falls, AccessAdventure.net, August 15, 2025
The FBI has launched an investigation into a Chicago-based travel agency, FlyGirl World Travel, after a wave of complaints from customers alleging they were left stranded and thousands of dollars out of pocket. The probe follows an ABC7 I-Team investigation that uncovered claims from travelers across the country.
According to the FBI, the agency — owned by Laticha Douglas — is suspected of taking payments for vacations, canceling reservations, and failing to provide refunds. Some customers say they later discovered no bookings had ever been made.
One customer, Katherine Jones-Young, told ABC7 her group spent thousands of dollars on a birthday trip to Aruba, only to be told at the resort that their reservations had been canceled a week earlier due to non-payment.
“They told us, ‘You have no reservation with us. There was no payment,’” Jones-Young said. “That’s when I realized she’s taken our money.” Attempts to reach Douglas failed, and the company’s website has since been taken offline.
In a letter to affected clients, Douglas acknowledged her agency had shut down due to “financial mistakes” and “bad business choices,” but denied intentionally scamming or stealing from anyone.
The FBI is urging potential victims to come forward. Complaints can be filed online at ic3.gov, by phone, or through an in-person appointment.