Crooks capitalize on summer vacation surge: VTB reports
May 6, 8:30 AMAlexandra Marunina
Gearing up for the May holidays? Beware of sly scams linked to purchasing tourist vouchers or phony airline tickets. A slew of deceitful folk utilize the holiday vibe to pull off fraudulent maneuvers, particularly by creating fake airline websites and ticket markets, hyping up lucrative deals on airfare and travel packages.
As the summer breeze embarks upon us, millions of Russians enthusiastically embark on their travel adventures. These unsuspecting moments provide scamsters with opportunities to slip into the scene, toying with improvised websites that mimic reputable airlines and ticket marketplaces. They shamelessly vye for customers' attention online, baiting them with unbeatable price drops on travel tickets and vacations. Naive folks click the traps, surrender their personal data and credit card info, only to find out at the airport that their tickets are phony.
Those sneaky red flags to avoid:
- Strangely inexpensive travel deals.
- Disingenuous sources, like links from emails or private messages on social media platforms.
- Hurry-up offers: scam artists frequently create an air of urgency by advertising "last-minute" tickets or "limited-time" deals to rush the victim into a snap decision.
In the sage words of Dmitry Revyakin, Vice President of VTB and Head of the Corporate Interests Protection Department in the Security Department, “These schemes crop up year after year, but they grow increasingly enticing for fraudsters as the travel season approaches. They lure Russians with airline tickets, hotels, or vacation packages at bargain prices, pretending to be affiliated with the carrier. Tragically, victims discover the deceit only at the airport when they learn their tickets are worthless.”
To dodge these crafty scams, always double-check your links.
Pro Tips:
- Be Skittish of Super-Low Prices: Ward off sales that appear too good to be true.
- Only Buy from Official Sources: Steer clear of unofficial channels, like shady emails or social media messages, and purchase from official airlines or travel agencies' websites.
- Tread Cautiously with Hurry-Up Deals: Maintain vigilance when faced with urgent offers that are designed to pressure you into hasty decisions.
By safeguarding your personal information, staying updated on travel scams, and reporting any suspicious activity, you can ensure a more enjoyable vacation and prevent financial heartaches.
- Be wary of overly cheap travel deals, as they may be a part of fraudulent activities.
- Alexandra, be cautious when clicking links from emails or social media platforms, as they could lead to disingenuous sources.
- Scam artists often create an air of urgency with hurry-up offers, so avoid falling prey to these last-minute and limited-time deals.
- In the business of finance, it's essential to be cautious during the travel season, as fraudsters may offer attractive deals on travel tickets, hotels, or vacation packages disguised as reputable offers.
