(Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)
With travelers hitting the road and record numbers this summer, travel experts note the exponential rise in frauds.
Using social media, text and email, scamsters use an indirect method to swindle travelers seeking a deal. I asked Forter, a company that specializes in fraud prevention, to break down the most current travel scams and how you can avoid them.
How do these scams work?
- These scams are primarily carried out through “triangulation” fraud. Essentially, fraudsters set up fake travel agencies or travel-related listings, wait for buyers, and fulfill their bookings through stolen payment methods. Fraudsters will use ads or social media posts to drive consumers to these “business” pages that often look professional and even offer good customer service. In the end, the fraudster gets paid, (sometimes) the buyer gets their booking, and an innocent third party loses money.
Who is being targeted?
- Consumers who are making travel related purchases are being targeted (plane tickets, hotel bookings, etc). Given the economic downturn and the high cost of travel right now, many consumers are eager to save a few bucks on a “last-minute” deal. This makes them especially vulnerable to travel fraud. However, triangulation fraud can affect anyone who purchases items online. In peak seasons like this, fraudsters are simply able to disguise themselves more easily within the sales traffic, causing a spike in fraud occurrences.
How can you avoid these scams?
1) You should take extra care when looking for deals online during peak seasons in order to avoid getting caught up in triangulation fraud.
3) You should also be wary of how they’re sharing their information online and who they’re sharing it with. Are they a trusted party that you know and have used before?
4) Don’t respond to unsolicited offers. That’s how they swindle a lot of people. They seem legitimate, but are covers for elaborate scams.
5) There are few bargains in travel these days, unless you’re willing to travel off-season or on undesirable days. It still holds that some deals are too good to be true. Use your smell test. It usually works better than AI.
