Members of the public are once again urged to exercise extreme caution when responding to hot air balloon advertisements on social media.
Investigators previously exposed the fraudulent booking operation under the names “Hartees Air Adventures” and “Magalies Sky”. However, the operation now appears to be approaching prospective customers as “Magalies Air Tours”.
This is not simply a case of one business having a similar name to another. Instead, information we have received indicates that the same pattern continues. The advertisers promote attractive hot air balloon offers online, move prospective customers to private WhatsApp conversations and request payment for flights that do not take place.
The name has changed, but the warning signs remain
Specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis and the Specialised Security Services Cybercrime Unit previously published a detailed public warning identifying “Hartees Air Adventures” as a fraudulent hot air balloon booking operation.
Their investigation found that the operation created the appearance of a legitimate tourism business, advertised non-existent flights and pressured customers to pay quickly. Victims reportedly received professional-looking booking confirmations and flight information after payment. However, the operators provided no genuine balloon flight.
In addition, the investigation identified “Magalies Sky” as another name associated with the operation. The latest information available to us indicates that people linked to the operation now use “Magalies Air Tours” in a similar manner.
The timing raises further concern. Publicly available domain information shows that someone registered magaliesairtours.com on 22 July 2026, only two days after Mike Bolhuis published his warning on 20 July 2026. Moreover, the registrant concealed the ownership information, and the website has almost no established operating history.
Read the full Mike Bolhuis public warning.
You can also read our earlier warning concerning Hartees Air Adventures and Magalies Sky.
How the suspected scam operates
The reported approach generally follows a familiar pattern:
- First, an advertisement promotes a hot air balloon offer on Facebook or another social media platform.
- Next, the advertiser directs interested customers to WhatsApp to discuss the booking privately.
- The advertiser then offers a heavily discounted or supposedly bank-linked promotional rate.
- To create urgency, the advertiser claims that only a few vouchers or spaces remain.
- The advertiser may also issue a booking code with a very short expiry period.
- Afterwards, the advertiser demands immediate payment before the customer can verify the business.
- The customer may then receive a polished confirmation and plausible flight instructions.
- Finally, the advertiser fails to provide the promised flight and may stop communicating.
A professional website, attractive photographs and convincing WhatsApp messages do not prove that an aviation operator is legitimate.
Warning signs to look for
Therefore, be extremely cautious if an advertiser:
- Uses the name “Magalies Air Tours”, “Hartees Air Adventures” or “Magalies Sky”
- Offers prices far below the established market rate
- Pressures you to pay within minutes to secure a voucher or promotional price
- Conducts the entire booking through social media and WhatsApp
- Requests payment into a personal bank account or through an unusual payment method
- Claims to operate a large fleet but cannot provide verifiable aircraft details
- Cannot produce a valid South African Civil Aviation Authority Air Service Licence and Air Operator Certificate
- Provides vague, conflicting or unverified physical addresses
- Claims to conduct commercial balloon flights directly over Hartbeespoort Dam
- Has a newly created website or social media page with little genuine operating history
- Has no established record of independent reviews from real passengers
Verify before you pay
Commercial hot air balloon operators must meet strict aviation requirements. Therefore, before making any payment, ask the business to provide:
- Its full registered company name and registration details.
- A verifiable physical operating address.
- Proof of its current SACAA Air Service Licence.
- Proof of its current SACAA Air Operator Certificate.
- The name and licence details of the pilot who will conduct the flight.
- A booking confirmation containing details that correspond with the licensed operator.
Do not rely only on the contact details in an advertisement. Instead, search for the operator independently. Then contact the business through the details on an established official website or verified business listing.
What to do if you have already paid
If you have already paid “Magalies Air Tours”, “Hartees Air Adventures”, “Magalies Sky” or a related suspected operation, take the following steps immediately:
- Contact your bank immediately and report the transaction as fraudulent.
- Ask whether the payment can be stopped, recalled or investigated.
- Open a case with the South African Police Service and obtain a case number.
- Preserve every WhatsApp message, email, invoice, payment confirmation and screenshot.
- Record the telephone numbers, email addresses, website addresses, banking details and social media profiles used.
- Report the relevant advertisement, page and profile to the social media platform.
- Contact the investigator whom the Mike Bolhuis public warning identifies: Mr JD Pienaar on +27 66 377 3301 or at jdpienaar@mikebolhuis.co.za.
Most importantly, do not delete any correspondence. Even a small detail may help investigators connect additional names, accounts and websites to the operation.
Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris has no connection to this operation
Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris has no connection or association whatsoever with “Magalies Air Tours”, magaliesairtours.com, “Hartees Air Adventures”, harteesair.com or “Magalies Sky”.
Established in 1981, Bill Harrop’s “Original” Balloon Safaris is a licensed commercial hot air balloon operator based at a private launch site in the Magalies River Valley near Skeerpoort.
Our official booking and enquiry channels are:
- Website: www.balloon.co.za
- Reservations and WhatsApp: +27 83 457 3402
- Email: chat@balloon.co.za / nadia@balloon.co.za
If you are uncertain whether a communication, quotation or booking is genuine, contact us directly before making payment.
Finally, please share this warning.
A new name and a polished website do not make an old scam legitimate.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming you on board.
