AirAsia MOVE, previously known as AirAsia Superapp, is urging everyone to exercise extra caution when booking flights and accommodations online, especially from suspicious-looking travel websites.
This warning has been issued in light of the alarming increase in reported online travel scams in the Philippines.
The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group has reported that these scams have increased up to 16 times in just two years. Therefore, if you’re planning to travel soon, it’s highly recommended to double-check the websites you’re using to avoid falling prey to these scams.
In 2021, there were 51 reported cases of scammers tricking people into purchasing low-priced flights and hotel accommodations. Unfortunately, by 2023, this number had increased significantly to 842 cases, with almost half of the victims losing their money to these fraudulent activities.
According to data from the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, people lost at least PHP13.2 million in 2023 due to scams related to online travel bookings.
It’s essential to be aware of two types of travel scams. The first is called “fakebooking”, where scammers steal your personal information. The second is losing money to scammers or fake travel agents. These scammers often promise a fake discount if you pay a downpayment or the total amount upfront. Unfortunately, this money is usually lost because the discount was never real. It’s essential to stay vigilant and avoid offers that seem too good to be true.
“They must go to a legitimate site. It can be a legitimate page or application (app), so at least we can determine if there is something suspicious in their communication. We shall know who is at fault because we will be able to monitor the transaction when they use legitimate applications or websites. This means, they have security because these are legitimate and these are regulated, so their transactions are secured,” advised Lt. Col. Jay Guillermo, PNP-ACG Spokesperson.
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