The FBI is Looking for Travelers Who May Have Been Scammed by an Omaha Travel Agent
The FBI is looking for travelers who booked trips through an Omaha-area travel agent. Connie Seastedt, who operated Captivating Travels by Connie, is being investigated for financial fraud, and the FBI says potential victims could be anywhere in the country.
Seastedt’s business planned domestic and international trips and booked resorts for clients. The FBI says it believes she used clients’ credit card information to commit fraud between June 2024 and August 2026.
Customers had already been speaking out about problems with their trips before the FBI put out its September 28 notice.
First Alert 6 reporter Mike McKnight spoke with several of them in August after reservations were canceled or customers learned that parts of their trips had never been booked.
Customers Said They Lost Thousands
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Stacy Russ told First Alert 6 that her family’s airline tickets disappeared on June 29 and their resort had not been booked. She said her family was out $42,000 and no longer had the Christmas trip to Mexico they had planned.
Heidi Gatling told the station she wired Seastedt $13,000 for a family trip to Jamaica that was later canceled. Derek and Courtney Hendricksen received five refund checks totaling $13,000 from Captivating Travels by Connie, but McKnight reported that all five checks bounced.
Another customer, Kayleigh Snider, said her group of 11 paid through Venmo after being told they could each save $1,000 that way. In August, customers also received an email saying that Captivating Travels by Connie was no longer in business and their reservations were being canceled.
The FBI Had Heard Concerns Before
McKnight later reported that a travel management company had terminated Seastedt’s contract and reported concerns to the FBI on June 18, 2025. The name of that company was not included in his report.
Gatling’s $13,000 wire transfer came months later. When McKnight asked the FBI about the complaints in August, the agency said it was aware of them but would not discuss whether it had opened an investigation.
The agency is now asking anyone who dealt with Seastedt or Captivating Travels by Connie to contact investigators.
What To Do If You Booked a Trip With Her
The FBI’s form asks where the trip was supposed to go, how much was paid and what was included. It also asks how the traveler paid, including by check, wire transfer, credit card, Venmo or Zelle.
People can also tell the FBI whether they received their trip, got a refund or were charged more than expected. Anyone with documents showing a loss can send bank statements, wire receipts, Venmo records or other proof to [email protected].
