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Attention, travelers! Scam warning: These destinations are particularly dangerous!
In this article you will learn about increasing fraud in the tourism sector, statistics, protection measures and where travelers should be careful.
Attention, travelers! Scam warning: These destinations are particularly dangerous!
Fraud in travel bookings is reaching alarming proportions, as recent reports show. Cases of fraud that affect tourists to a significant extent often occur, especially in popular holiday regions. According to information from Vietnam.vn Street vendors in Hanoi exemplify this issue by selling small bags of apples to foreign tourists for an astronomical VND200,000, sparking outrage.
Concerns about travel fraud are not unfounded. A study shows that travel booking fraud rates are four times higher than other industries. After booking, it often happens that travel offers are not fulfilled or turn out differently than promised.
Regional differences and risks
David Mann, chief Asia Pacific economist at the Mastercard Economic Institute, explains that the risk of fraud varies significantly by city. In some destinations, fraud occurs primarily among tour operators, while in others it occurs in the catering sector. Data from Mastercard identifies cities with the lowest fraud rates such as San Francisco, Dublin and Seoul, while higher fraud rates are seen in Cancun, Hanoi, Dhaka and Bangkok.
Common types of fraud affecting travelers include tours, luggage, car rentals, hotels and restaurants. What's particularly worrying is that fraud related to travel planning has increased by more than 12% in the last year. In this regard, travelers are encouraged to pay attention to offers that are “too good to be true.”
The German travel security situation
In Germany, a survey by McAfee shows that one in three Germans has already fallen victim to travel booking fraud. This survey, which surveyed 6,000 adults, indicates that 54 percent of Germans plan to travel abroad in 2024. Cybercriminals take advantage of the peak season to lure travelers with tempting offers.
Phishing is a common method of stealing personal information through fake emails. Shockingly, 24 percent of respondents have already provided their credit or debit card details on fraudulent websites. In addition, 66 percent of Germans are concerned about fraud facilitated by AI and deepfakes.
Measures to protect travelers
To protect yourself from fraud, McAfee recommends using reputable security software with anti-phishing protection. Travelers should pay particular attention to unusually low prices and be wary of unsolicited messages requesting personal information. Vendors without reviews are suspect and credit card details should never be entered outside of the booking platform.
Additionally, there are helpful steps travelers can take to protect themselves. This includes setting up e-wallets, purchasing travel insurance, and using credit cards that offer fraud protection. These precautions are particularly important to counteract the increasing number of fraud cases in the travel industry and to travel more safely.