SMART BOOKING, SAFE TRAVELLING.
Outsmart the scammers by booking the right way!
Sometimes trust is the biggest vulnerability that leads to the perfect scam.
Every day fake websites, fake ads, and search engines are misleading hundreds of travelers and scamming them.
These traps successfully deceive naive customers who believe them to be real and money-saving.
In this article, we will discuss every possible trap and how we can have scam-proof traveling.
Era Of E-Travel
Post-pandemic, the hospitality industry has evolved dramatically. The way people are now planning, booking, and managing their travel is a major shift.
Let’s dive into some stats that will clear the image of how it has evolved after COVID-19.
1- In 2023, 72% of travelers preferred booking their trips online as compared to the 12% who preferred a travel agency.
2- 53% of those who book their trips online stated that it’s because of the ease with which they can plan their trip (perfect for last-minute trips).
3- For 47% it was easy to compare prices and for 42% it was easy to get cheaper deals.
(Source: https://www.travelperk.com/blog/online-travel-booking-statistics/)
Cunning Cons
A true scam artist is both a puppet master and a master of disguise.
It takes a brain to master the art of scamming. They are keen observers and great researchers. After observing the buyer behaviors, latest trends, and loopholes, they properly design a scam framework.
Phew!! Loads of hard work!!
The question is: How does the online booking scammers work?
Hmm.. Let’s reveal!!
1- Huge scams are taking place through fake airline tickets, fraudulent hotel reservation sites, and non-existent car rentals.
2- They mostly target popular tourist destinations.
3- Also target holidays, the festive season, or New Year’s, when the demand for traveling is at its peak.
4- Most scammers hit travelers who are looking for cheap online deals.
Watch Out For This!
Let me show you some real examples you can watch out for when planning your trip.
Target#1- Booking.com scam
A site pretends to be Booking.com, which tries to steal your booking.com passwords and emails. They also don’t spare hotel and apartment owners as well.
Target#2- Airbnb
Their other target is also a big name i.e. Airbnb. Some fake identical websites offer attractive rental deals and ask the visitors to pay their agent through a wire.
Target#3- Fake Travel Survey Websites
Scammers are also harvesting data through fake survey websites. They offer attractive prizes for taking the surveys like prize money of US100$.
At the end of the survey, they ask for personal details like name, address, contact details, and payment information. It all can be later used in wrong ways and the actual person couldn’t foresee the destruction coming his way.
Target#4- Popular Airline Websites
Another target of theirs is popular airline websites. The more popular the airline, the greater the chance of its targeting.
The phisher’s real agenda is to grab login details to access loyalty program points, which later they sell for money, or to hijack other accounts if passwords are again used.
Target#5- Airline Tickets:
This year, scammers are disguising themselves as travel agents offering UK airline-bound tickets at cheap prices. After the customer pays, a fake reservation appears in the system with a valid PNR code, which seems real.
But, scammers never buy the tickets resulting in an expiry of the reservation. Scammers then grab the money and POOF!! They are gone!
Scam-Proof Your Travel Plans
Prepare & prevent instead of repair & repent
Let’s put on our lab goggles and spot the RED-FLAGS while booking an online travel:
1- If there is a sense of urgency to act like book quickly or get now- it’s likely a scam.
2- Never click on the links and attachments from strange emails.
3- Always use official business details to contact the businesses.
4- Don’t fall for online ads about cheap booking websites.
5- Always stick to the old, reputable, and known websites for bookings.
6- Never do wire transfers.
7- Don’t use public Wi-Fi, instead use VPNs. Staying alert on the road is also very important.
8- Always look for “https” and a padlock icon in the URL before making online transactions and entering personal details. Pay from the credit always to avoid fraud.
9- Never fall for visa websites offering cheap or instant visas. Always use government official websites.
10- Ignore the ‘free air ticket’ offers online. No genuine airline contests for giving free tickets via SMS.
11- Never ever pay full advance payments.
12- Never click on ‘Confirm Your Flight’ emails. Don’t give them any details.
13- Always check the reviews of properties on official websites to know their legitimacy.
14- Always buy tickets from the airlines directly.
15- Don’t reveal your reservation numbers and ticket barcodes online.
16- Must double-check all trip bookings a few days before departure.
17- Download reliable antivirus software that protects against fraud.
Ending on a Safe Note
It’s high time to stay ahead of the game to survive in it. Foresighting scams allow for strategic decision-making and making your journey fraud-proof.
Keep all the red flags in mind while making your decisions, otherwise, the fake alluring offers can cost you a much of destruction.
So, stay informed, verify sources, and use trusted platforms for a safe and smooth journey.
Hope this article will protect you from scammers.
