A US citizen, Jarrad Gillespie, who uses the Tripadvisor platform to promote himself as a tour operator, has been reported to the Attorney General of Quintana Roo for alleged fraud and threats against the owner of a tour company in Cozumel.
According to investigation file 1944/2024, Gillespie defrauded the Cozumel company over $95,000. The company had contracted his services for operating tours, vehicles, ATVs, food, and snacks for various clients.
The complainant, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals, stated that Gillespie currently resides in the United States, from where he has made threatening calls and sent messages displaying firearms.
The complaint details that Gillespie’s mother-in-law initially contacted the tour company to arrange services for their clients. While the accused’s company initially paid its bills, it later only partially paid for some services, accumulated debts, and eventually stopped paying altogether before fleeing to the United States.
As a result, the Attorney General’s Office has issued notices for an arrest warrant. It appears that Gillespie, with the help of his wife and mother-in-law, has already started operations under a different business name in Cozumel, continuing the same fraudulent practices and accumulating new debts with other local companies.
Andrés Martínez, the general director of the Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ), recently commented that while the issue does not fall directly under their jurisdiction, the office remains vigilant about cyber fraud due to its potential impact on the destination’s image.
Source: Reportur
