Last year there were over 4,244 reports of travel related fraud in the U.K. alone, causing victims to lose an average of £1,868 ($2,000). This indicates that travel scams are real and continue to be a major concern amongst consumers.
Arianna Bago, Fraud Analyst at Proxyrack has told Digital Journal about the essential steps consumers should take to protect themselves when booking a holiday.
Bago warns: “One scam becoming increasingly hard to spot is fake online shopping websites that mirror those of genuine companies. These sites are set up in order to obtain the payment card details of victims and steal their money, so consumers need to closely analyse the website’s URL before submitting any valuable personal information.”
Bago’s tips are:
Verify the security of the website in your browser
Fake travel companies can look highly professional and be hard to spot, but consumers can check whether or not a site is legitimate by clicking on the padlock icon to the left of the URL. This will show you whether there is a valid security certificate issued to the company you think you’re booking with.
Thoroughly check the website’s URL
Scam travel websites often replicate reputable companies using domain spoofing tricks, such as adding or removing an extra letter in the address, using http:// rather than https:// in the hope that consumers won’t notice. Most internet browsers are pretty good at informing you when a website is secure, but do double-check that the URL is correct – especially at the checkout stage.
Avoid paying with digital currency
Dishonest travel promoters will often encourage you to pay with wire transfers, prepaid cards, or cryptocurrency, instead of with a credit card but this is often a sure sign of a scam. If you use these forms of payment and the deal is illegitimate, you will lose your money and will be unlikely to be able to track it or get it back, so do not purchase any travel packages with these methods.
Do not be lured away from trusted sites for payment
Travel fraudsters often direct consumers away from trusted booking platforms and request payment on separate, external sites, by tempting them with a better rate if they pay on a different platform. Consumers should keep all communications, bookings and payments on trusted platforms to help protect them from fraud.
Avoid clicking on email links
Unsolicited promotional emails can appear legitimate, but may include click-through links to fake websites designed to capture credentials. Avoid clicking on links sent via email with travel promotions like free airline tickets, frequent flyer points or warnings that there is an issue with your booking, as these are commonly used by scammers.
Look out for social media advertisements scams
Fake competition social media advertisements have also been known to defraud holidaymakers out of a fee to secure a holiday. Always double-check the account behind these advertisements by looking for the blue checkmark next to the account name which will let you know that the account is genuine, and be sure to report any fraudulent activity.
Do not be rushed into booking
Scammers frequently use language that makes travellers believe the offer is time limited, to entice them to pay before researching the company. But, if a travel website is defrauding people, there is a high chance other consumers will have posted details of their experience, so be sure to verify the company’s legitimacy before making any purchases. Don’t just rely on one review – do a thorough online search to ensure the company is credible, especially when using third party websites.
Cover your steps
When you make any online booking, always call the company afterwards to confirm. If there is no record of your booking, it’s better to know sooner rather than later. You’ll be able to alert your banking company, report the fraud, and still have time to book alternative reservations with the real deal.
In summing up, Bago advises: “Whilst there are steps consumers can take to protect themselves, ultimately thousands of people will fall victim to travel fraud this year. If you believe you have been conned, you should contact your local authorities. Do not delete any incriminating emails, texts, or messages and if possible take screenshots of any messages as they could be useful evidence if an investigation takes place. You also will need to contact your bank and/or credit card provider to report the fraudulent activity. Most banks have dedicated fraud teams to help in these situations and will be able to assist you.”
