The ongoing saga involving a former journalist turned PR/travel agent is revealing alarming details. She is reportedly linked to a series of fraudulent trips, the most infamous being the “golden package” to the Final Four in Abu Dhabi—a journey that never took place. Numerous businesspeople, celebrities, and socialites in Athens were convinced to pay hefty sums to attend this grand basketball event, only to discover it was a complete fabrication.
An even more shocking incident has come to light. This time, the victims weren’t influential figures or her acquaintances but numerous underage athletes from the National Cheerleading Team, who had been training intensely for the World Championship in Orlando, USA. Instead of enjoying a hard-earned reward, they were left heartbroken at home, their bags packed for a once-in-a-lifetime trip that hinged on the integrity of one unreliable individual.
This situation has turned into a nightmare for around 60 families, who spoke to protothema.gr about being scammed by the same woman, who posed as a luxury travel organizer. The group included young athletes, their parents, and coaches, all set to leave for Orlando on Holy Saturday for their sport’s World Championship debut.
“The girls trained tirelessly all winter, five times a week for three hours each session. This was their dream—the pinnacle of their young careers. They had been preparing for months to represent Greece on an international stage,” the father of one athlete recounted to protothema.gr, still in disbelief over the ordeal.
On Good Friday morning, the PR agent reportedly assured families that “everything is set,” claiming she had the tickets and hotel reservations in hand. She even promised to accompany them on the trip. However, the next morning—just hours before departure—while families were heading to the airport, she called to coldly inform them that “there are no tickets” and that the trip was postponed until the following day. No explanation was offered, leaving the entire team to return home empty-handed. The children were devastated, and families spent Holy Saturday in distress.
The PR agent continued to make assurances, claiming she was securing new tickets and urging parents to be patient, attributing the issue to a “technical glitch.” As time passed without any resolution, parents took initiative, pooling additional money—roughly €1,250 per person—to purchase new tickets so the children could depart on Easter Sunday. The team eventually made it to Orlando, but families were left to foot the bill twice—both financially and emotionally.
The shock didn’t end there. When families contacted the hotel where the PR agent claimed to have made bookings, they learned that no reservations existed in their names. No arrangements had been made. Reports indicate the woman collected at least €60,000 from parents for the Orlando trip—money that vanished without receipts, documentation, or accountability.
Despite the chaos, Greece secured the Bronze Medal, achieving an important international milestone for the nation.
Sources suggest the woman employs a specific scam strategy: she organizes easy, low-cost trips within Europe to build trust before taking on more complex and expensive packages—which she never delivers, pocketing the deposits. She had also been tasked with arranging the team’s trip to the European Championship in Ljubljana, Slovenia, scheduled for June 25 to July 1, already collecting around €30,000 for that venture without providing any tickets or travel plans.
Parents allege she attempted to blackmail them, suggesting: “If you give me another €15,000 for Slovenia, maybe I’ll refund half of the Orlando costs.” To date, none of the families have received a refund. Frustration continues to escalate, with many seeking legal advice. Petitions are circulating, and evidence is being gathered for a class-action lawsuit.
This case has evolved into more than just a personal dispute; it is now viewed as a massive fraud operation. The victims are not isolated individuals but entire national teams, groups of children, and families who sacrificed time, money, and emotional energy. If the allegations are substantiated, this could represent one of the most systematic and egregious fraud schemes in recent years—centered around a woman who expertly crafted her image, promised luxury trips, and left nothing but disappointment, anger, and financial ruin in her wake.
The President of the Cheerleading Federation, Peli Fostieri, informed protothema.gr that legal proceedings have commenced, with lawsuits filed against the woman.
“In a just society, this woman would already be incarcerated,” she said, expressing her outrage and disappointment that, despite serious allegations and substantial sums allegedly stolen, the woman remains at large.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions
