Many people have lost tens, even hundreds of millions of VND because of trusting advertisements on social networks.
Losing hundreds of millions of VND because of believing in cheap air tickets on groups
Recently, taking advantage of the psychology of being greedy for cheap prices and the increasing demand for travel, many subjects created fake Facebook accounts, impersonating reputable travel companies to advertise air tickets, travel comboes, and cheap room bookings in large-member groups. After buyers transfer deposits, the subjects quickly block contact and appropriate money.
According to reporters' records, these accounts often post images, "customer" feedback and personal papers created to create trust. When someone contacts them, the subject requests to transfer money from 50 - 70% of the ticket value or combo to reserve seats and issue tickets. When they cannot be contacted, victims are shocked to realize they have been scammed.
Just because of believing in the cheap air ticket offer online, Ms. Nguyen Ha Anh (Hanoi) was scammed of 100 million VND. "I booked air tickets through someone in the group because I saw that the price was much cheaper. My family went with more than 20 people, consulted on official websites, the round-trip ticket was nearly 200 million VND, while the collaborator quoted a price of only about half, so I decided to book. After transferring 100 million VND, I could not contact them anymore. Before that, I reviewed my personal page, saw regular posts, images and quite reputable feedback, so I trusted it," Ms. Ha Anh said indignantly.
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Minh Hoa (Hanoi) also became a victim when booking a travel combo during peak seasons at a price much lower than the market price. According to Ms. Hoa, to create trust, the subjects also actively send photos of citizen identification cards, personal information and many feedbacks that are said to be from previous customers.
I saw them advertising a combo package of air and hotel tickets that was almost half the price I researched myself. They also sent personal information photos, personal papers and many customer feedbacks, so I trusted them even more to transfer the deposit. Closer to the date of asking for the booking code again, I couldn't contact them anymore, and then I realized I had been scammed," Ms. Hoa said indignantly.
Bank transfer payments must be carefully checked, do not transfer money to small individuals
According to Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan - General Director of Flamingo Redtours, the scams of selling cheap air tickets and travel comboes largely stem from the fact that buyers are too trusting of advertisements on social networks and skip the information verification step.
“Transfer payment is the most risky stage if people do not check carefully. Before transferring money, it is necessary to fully compare the legal information of the tour seller such as business name, tax identification number, address, official website. People should only transfer money to accounts in the name of companies, business establishments with clear registration, absolutely do not transfer money to small individual accounts, intermediary collaborators when not verified,” Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan recommended.
Mr. Hoan also said that service packages with unusually cheap prices compared to the general level often contain signs of fraud. Customers need to proactively survey prices from many sources, request contracts, invoices and confirm the official booking code before payment.
In case of detecting suspicious signs or having already transferred money, people need to quickly report to functional agencies for timely support. At the same time, warning information should be shared on social networks to further limit other victims," Mr. Nguyen Cong Hoan recommended.
Faced with the increasingly sophisticated scams in cyberspace, people need to be vigilant, especially in transactions related to air tickets and cheap tours. Carefully checking information about service providers, selecting reputable businesses and performing payments according to procedures not only helps protect personal rights but also contributes to limiting the situation of "losing money and getting sick".
