A 'callous' travel agent who faked cancer as part of a Ponzi scheme to con 1,400 holidaymakers out of millions of pounds has been jailed for nine years
Lyne Barlow, appearing at Durham Crown Court in October, pleaded guilty to several counts of fraud relating to loans, investments, and holiday sales, and a further charge of money laundering.
But Barlow was using websites that anyone could fine to look for a holiday, that she would then sell on to customers at big discounts.She later used new bookings to pay for existing holidays - effectively a Ponzi scheme. Barlow would also often promise to send booking confirmation details which failed to arrive, citing reasons such as delays from holiday companies.
Some of the money she did gain was used to fund her own lifestyle, which included foreign holidays, designer clothes and lavish parties.Detective Sergeant Alan Meehan, of Durham Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit, who led the investigation, said: “Fraud is a horrendous crime and Barlow’s actions were appalling.
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