A woman hoping a trip to Hawaii would give her a much needed boost after cancer treatments is among nearly two dozen victims of an internet fraud involving discount WestJet credits.

And to make matters worse, Zaheen Rhemtulla will be out $2,000 despite the fact the airline had told her the discount credits were hers to use as she wished.

Zaheen Rhemtulla is out of pocket nearly $2,000 after buying discounted WestJet credits.
(CBC)

Rhemtulla's problems began when a man had offered thousands of dollars of the airline's credits for sale on craigslist, a popular buy-and-sell website.

After weeks of breast cancer treatment, Rhemtulla had been hoping to get some sun in Hawaii with her two kids and her mother. She was off work during the treatment, she said, so buying full-price airline tickets was out of the question. 

When she found someone selling WestJet credits for half price on the internet, Rhemtulla said, red flags went up and she checked with the airline.

"I called WestJet and again I confirmed with them and they said: 'No, everything is legitimate, don't worry, enjoy the credits, you can use these for whenever.'

"So I'm thinking, 'OK, everything is fine.' And they said, 'These cannot be taken away from you, you know these are yours.'"

So she paid the man nearly $2,000 in cash.

However, the airline cancelled the credits after it discovered the man had paid for them with a phony credit card.

WestJet spokesman Richard Bartram confirmed with CBC News that the airline's ticket agents had told people the cut-rate credits were valid — but that doesn't mean they'll get any money back.

"The sales agent at that point of time is looking at something that is in fact a legitimate credit file. However, when the police then phoned to tell us that this is in fact a stolen credit card, it doesn't change the fact that it is in fact a stolen credit card."

Bartram said WestJet will offer the lowest fares possible for those who've been ripped off.