ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

Online Travel Scams Are Causing Chaos Amid Post-Pandemic Tourism Boom

Common online travel scams are back again, with scammers using the same old tricks to deceive people online.
UPDATED AUG 24, 2023
Cover Image Source: Pexels | Torsten Dettlaff
Cover Image Source: Pexels | Torsten Dettlaff

We've heard countless stories about how people are being duped online into booking their travel tickets from a third-party website. Despite being aware that such scams exist, people are still registering through such portals, carelessly depositing money and then waiting for refunds that may never come. Since the travel industry has had a massive boom after the COVID-19 crisis, scammers are devising new ways to trick people online, especially by acting as third-party hosts or travel agencies.

These agencies offer to book hotels and flights for potential customers, along with planning their itineraries and budgets, making it seem all the more enticing for busy professionals or elderly citizens who want help with all the legwork. However, the blind faith that people bestow on such portals is what leads them to lose a sizable amount of their money. Here's how you can avoid getting duped and enjoy that perfect vacation that you've always planned for.

Pexels | Leeloo Thefirst
Image Source: Leeloo Thefirst/Pexels 

How to identify common travel scams

Travel scams are one of the most common scams to ever take place, considering a large part of the planning takes place online. People often select portals that guide them through the entire process and may end up suggesting packages for them to select from. Here's how you can stop getting scammed through such portals.

Do you want to go to Bali and bask in its sunny glory? However, before exploring options and itineraries suitable for your perfect vacation, conduct a thorough research about your portal or agency first. Reviewing customer feedback and ratings can be a good way to proceed. Credible travel agencies like Expedia and Booking.com always have a steady backup and dedicated customer service to help you through the entire process.

Pexels | Vlada Karpovich
Not giving proper receipts/acknowledgments

When hiring travel agencies, people are usually inquisitive about the package details, travel plans, and itinerary plans. These packages come with their own set of receipts and invoices that may come in handy later and serve as proof of financial transactions being held between the concerned parties. If an agency is delivering fake receipts without proper formatting or is not interested in dispensing receipts, that can also be a potential sign to not engage with such portals. 

Image ource: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
Image ource: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

Watch out for flashy websites

Scammers usually design their websites in a way that can tempt the masses and compel them to share their sensitive data with the concerned portal. If the website looks too good, but is generally empty in terms of ratings and reviews, and lacks a proper structure, you might want to block the site without sharing any of your data.

Image Source: Pexels | Photo by Tara Winstead
Image Source: Tara Winstead/Pexels 

Portals asking for sensitive data
If a website, agency, or portal is bent on asking for personal information such as emails, contact information, or bank details before sharing the itinerary or budget details, that's a huge red flag and you should proceed with caution.

Image Source: Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay
Image Source: Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay

Opting for safe and secure agencies with a steady, verifiable background should always be a priority. Conducting thorough research on your options and browsing through dependable portals can help you enjoy the holiday you always planned for. Till then, travel safely by protecting yourselves from such lucrative scams.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
Lori Greiner wasn't happy at all as Mark Cuban and Maria Sharapova snubbed her for a deal.
45 minutes ago
Fans took to Reddit to discuss the issue with Seacrest not reminding the players of one crucial element.
21 hours ago
When Rick Harrison's side kick bought King Booker's boots, he had to make sure it was the real deal.
23 hours ago
Turns out the Hollywood star is quite the fan of former U.S. President, Ronald Reagan.
1 day ago
Harrison bagged one of Jabbar's personal items and a chance to go to a Lakers game with him
1 day ago
Recently, the Bonus Round of the show has featured many old phrases that led to heartbreaking losses.
1 day ago
Lubetzky was the first to drop out but then came back as he was impressed by the entrepreneur.
2 days ago
The appraiser took the guest's breath away as she was expecting to get much less for it.
2 days ago
The show got close to hitting the record of the longest Bonus Round losing streak.
2 days ago
She continued to be hyperactive throughout the game even with her answers.
2 days ago
With four offers on the table, the founders of Bucket Golf smartly got a deal that they wanted.
3 days ago
Fans took to Reddit to discuss if the show has gotten a little too social for its style.
3 days ago
When the Holy Grail toy came up to Harrison's table, he wasn't willing to let it go.
3 days ago
The founder of 'Noshi Food Paint' was down to the last shark for a deal.
4 days ago
Ashia who won $25,000 executed an epic celebration after her win in the "To The Penny" game.
4 days ago
Harrison was offering more than he usually does but the seller was also adamant.
4 days ago
It turned out that the gift came from one of the greatest American sculptors in history.
5 days ago
The guest who got the collection at an auction was shocked to find out its true value.
5 days ago
The guest who paid $15 for the storage cabinet was pleasantly surprised in the end.
6 days ago
The men of Shark Tank looked as dashing as ever in their red wigs from 'How to be a Redhead'.
6 days ago