With the upcoming holidays, the demand for travel is rising, which is also when scammers launch a series of sophisticated tricks. One of the most common tactics today is spoofing reputable hotel booking websites.
According to records from the VTrust system, the number of reports about fake websites has spiked in the past month. Scammers often run ads on social media with "unbelievable" offers to lure victims.
"Scammers often ask for a 50-100% transfer of the room value in advance to reserve a spot at a cheap price. After receiving the money, they will cut off all contact."
Signs of Scams
Users need to be vigilant when encountering the following signs:
- Room prices are unusually cheap compared to the general market (usually 30-50% cheaper).
- Newly created Fanpage or Website, little interaction, or fake interaction (seeding).
- Requesting transfer to a personal account instead of a company account.
- Urging quick money transfer to "hold the slot" because rooms are running out.
How to prevent?
To protect yourself and your assets, VTrust recommends users:
- Only book rooms through reputable applications or websites that have been verified (Booking, Agoda, Traveloka...).
- Carefully check the service provider's information (Tax code, address, hotline).
- Use the Scam Check tool of VTrust to look up phone numbers/bank accounts before transacting.
- Call the hotel directly to confirm booking information if booking through an intermediary.