Online booking platforms have become popular for travelers seeking vacation deals for accommodations, flights and car rentals. It’s important to recognize that this is also a place where cyber criminals lurk, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting customers. So what kind of scams should you be aware of when using these sites?
Phishing is a popular weapon in a miscreants arsenal. The crook can spoof a reputable website, enticing the victim to click on a link that may deliver malware or make a payment to secure a reservation. Watch for urgency in the message and if in doubt, contact the company in person.
Avoid the in-app chat feature for payment information. These chatbots can be hijacked as well. Though legitimate help can be obtained from these chats, limit your conversations to questions about the service. Never divulge financial or personal information through this outlet.
Be wary of deals that appear in your inbox that seem to good to be true, because they are probably scams. Make sure to research, review and verify vacation destinations.
Sometimes crooks will blast out social media messages or use text messaging to entice the victim to evaluate a vacation destination in return for pay. Once you agree, you are required to pay a fee up-front to secure the position. Or the scammer may request some sort of personal information that could result in identity theft.
Keep these tips in mind when booking and traveling to your destination.
- Do your homework. Make sure to read reviews and ratings.
- Use a reputable booking service and never transfer cash directly.
- Do not reply to unsolicited communication.
- Don’t use public wi-fi when entering confidential or financial information in the website.
- Avoid public charging stations. Fake USB charging stations, ‘juice jacking’, can compromise a victim’s device.
There are good deals to be had when seeking a vacation oasis. Just use caution so you don’t end up with a mirage.