Fraud in Mallorca: vacationers lose 800 euros in phantom apartment!

Fraud in Mallorca: vacationers lose 800 euros in phantom apartment!

Mallorca, Spanien - The popular holiday destination Mallorca, often referred to as the 17th federal state of Germany, has again attracted attention - for unusually alarming reasons. The couple Martina and Rüdiger Hack became the victim of a perfidious fraud during their stay on the sunny island. Like Derwesten.de reports, the couple booked a holiday apartment that ultimately did not exist. Even before the trip, they transferred 800 euros to a Spanish account, just to stand in front of an empty holiday home on arrival that was never inhabited by an alleged owner.

The hacks had to shorten their trip by four days after not finding an alternative accommodation. Such fraud cases are by no means individual cases in Mallorca. According to mallorcatravel.eu , the number of cases increases in which fraudsters use fake data and images to fool unsuspecting vacationers. Providers who offer extremely favorable prices and require down payments should be considered with caution.

protection against fraud: important tips

iwona Husemann from the Consumer Center North Rhine -Westphalia recommends that some security measures take place before booking holiday apartments. This includes carefully checking the offers and obtaining information about the duration of the offer and experience reports from other travelers. She also advises Google Maps to check the existence of the accommodation.

• Check whether the booking page contains an imprint with a full address and contact details.
• Pay attention to 0190 forecasts that could indicate dubious providers.
• The booking confirmation should be made immediately and the general terms and conditions (GTC) should be read.

serious booking sites, such as Booking.com, also warn that your employees should never query sensitive information. These information is particularly important, as those affected often only recognize on site that they fell for a fraudster. The dangers are diverse; Strikingly cheap prices and missing contact details are clear warning signs.

In order to prevent further fraud, you should obtain extensive information about providers, obtain references and opinions in order to avoid unpleasant surprises. A good security measure is also to handle the payments via SSL-encrypted websites, whereby down payments should not be more than 30% of the total price. With these precautions, travelers can ensure that their precious vacation time is not clouded by fraud.