Omaha Grifter Gets 5+ Years for $4.7M Voucher Scam

OMAHA, NEBRASKA – Patricia Urbanovsky, 31, of Omaha, Nebraska, is trading the Nebraska skyline for a federal prison cell after being sentenced to 63 months for sixteen counts of wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Bataillon handed down the sentence on January 30, 2017, with no chance of parole. Urbanovsky will also face three years of supervised release after completing her sentence, and has been ordered to pay restitution totaling almost $4.7 million.

The scheme, perpetrated from approximately May 2014 through at least March 2015, involved the marketing and sale of deeply discounted vacation packages and vouchers purportedly associated with Southwest Airlines and Southwest Vacations through Urbanovsky’s company, Creative Creations. But the “deals” were a mirage. Investigators with the Omaha Police Department, FBI, and IRS uncovered a classic bait-and-switch: the actual cost of the airline tickets and vacation packages far exceeded what customers paid for the vouchers.

Urbanovsky ran a shell game, using money from newer customers to fulfill vouchers for earlier purchasers. A shaky foundation, to say the least. The investigation revealed that Urbanovsky consistently spent more on airline tickets than she collected in voucher sales – a fundamentally unsustainable business model she apparently ignored. Despite the bleeding red ink, she continued to lure in customers with promises of below-market rates, essentially robbing Peter to pay Paul…and lining her own pockets in the process.

The deception didn’t stop at inflated prices. Urbanovsky fabricated a relationship with a supposed Vice President at Southwest Vacations, claiming this connection allowed her to secure discounted fares. She even created a fake email account impersonating the Southwest VP, sending fraudulent emails to employees and customers bolstering the lie. Southwest Airlines, needless to say, had absolutely no affiliation with Urbanovsky or Creative Creations. It was a house of cards built on lies and fueled by stolen money.

The biggest victim? Square, Incorporated, the third-party credit card processor for Creative Creations. They absorbed over $4.6 million in losses from chargebacks stemming from Urbanovsky’s fraudulent accounts. In total, nine victims were left holding the bag, suffering losses totaling nearly $4.7 million. Following the sentencing, Urbanovsky was immediately taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service, ending her reign of deception.

Federal authorities warn that this case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of “too good to be true” deals. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Omaha Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Internal Revenue Service, demonstrating the commitment of these agencies to pursue and prosecute those who prey on unsuspecting consumers. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.