Tourist Season Stokes Fraudulent Activities According to VTB
MAYDAY! MAYDAY! Here's the scoop for the May holidays trip planning:
During the vacation season, beware of the spike in travel scams! VTB warns of increased phishing activities focusing on attracting unsuspecting tourists with fake airline tickets or travel vouchers.
These devious con artists create knockoff airline and travel websites, luring customers with unbelievable deals on flights and vacation packages. With the May holidays just around the corner, many Russians are eagerly planning their escapades. Scammers take advantage of this enthusiasm by setting up fake websites for well-known airlines and travel platforms, promoting them with enticing offers of heavily discounted tickets. As innocent travelers click on the links, they're led to enter their personal details and banking info to complete the transaction. Once the money is handed over, the scammers disappear, leaving upset tourists with empty pockets and no tickets. However, the real kicker comes when they reach the airport to discover their "tickets" are as fake as a three-dollar bill!
To avoid getting duped, watch out for these red flags:
- Bargain basement prices for airline tickets or travel vouchers that are too good to be true.
- Fishy sources, such as links found in e-mails or messages within messaging apps.
- Scarcity tactics: scammers create an artificial sense of urgency by offering last-minute fares or limited-time deals to pressure victims into making snap decisions.
As Virgin Territory Bank's (VTB) Vice President Dmitry Revyakin put it, "These scammy schemes have been circulating for quite some time, but they become more appealing to fraudsters as the holiday season approaches. Scammers make a living offering Russian folks airline tickets, hotels, or vacation packages at crazy low prices, supposedly on behalf of the airline. Unfortunately, victims find out the hard way - only at the airport when they discover their "ticket" doesn't exist. To avoid these scams, always verify the links."
Here's how to keep your travel dreams from becoming nightmares:
- Book tickets directly with airlines or reliable online travel agencies (OTAs).
- Ensure the website is secure by checking for "https" in the URL. Fake sites may use "http" or deceptive URLs that resemble those of legitimate airlines. Be on the lookout for the company name in the URL and double-check for disclaimers at the bottom of the page verifying it's the official site.
- Be skeptical of unsolicited communications such as e-mails or text messages requesting sensitive information or immediate action.
- Watch out for phony cancellation notices with links that lead to phishing sites designed to steal personal and financial information. Contact the airline directly to confirm the status of your flight.
- Use secure payment methods like credit cards that are reversible, avoiding non-reversible payment methods like wire transfers or gift cards.
- Stay informed about the latest travel scams by following reputable travel tips and scam alerts. Remember, awareness is key to protecting yourself from potential threats!
- Business news outlets and crime-and-justice sections have warned about a surge in travel scams for the upcoming May holidays, with scammers targeting unsuspecting tourists with invalid airline tickets or vouchers.
- In the general-news sector, VTB has issued a warning about the increase in phishing activities during the holiday season, focusing on luring tourists with misleading travel deals and financial information.
- Some scammers have set up fake airline and travel websites to promote affordable holiday packages at abnormally low prices, leading to the loss of personal details and financial resources for many Russians.
- As the May holidays approach, it's essential to remain vigilant when planning business travel to avoid falling victim to phony websites and phishing scams.
- In 2025, travelers should be on the lookout for red flags, such as suspicious sources, bargain basement prices, and scarcity tactics promoting travel deals that are too good to be true.
