Largo Woman Sold Phony Cruises, Deputies Say

LARGO, FL — A 54-year-old Largo woman faces seven counts of grand theft after Pinellas County deputies say she sold customers fake cruise vouchers.

According to the agency, Janet Marilyn Bender was arrested Thursday morning at her apartment on Bryan Dairy Road. Deputies say they began an investigation to look into Bender’s alleged actions in March when several customers reported they had been sold fraudulent vouchers. Bender, an email from the sheriff’s office said, worked as an independent travel agent through the CruiseOne travel agency.

“Detectives say that through the course of the investigation, they were able to identify a total of nine victims that purchased fraudulent cruise vouchers from Bender,” the email said. “The vouchers were for the entire cost of a cruise with a balcony state room for between $200 and $500 each.”

Victims, deputies said, were asked to pay for their cruises with cash or a check made out to Bender directly. Victims who tried to use their vouchers found that their cruises had never been scheduled, the agency said.

“Detectives also determined that the Pinellas Park Police Department arrested Bender for a similar complaint in March 2016,” the email noted.

Bender was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Thursday. She was released on bond early Friday morning, jail records indicate.

The investigation into the alleged theft remains active. Deputies ask that anyone who believes they have been victimized or who has information in the case call Detective Quentin Collamore at 727-582-6200.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

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