Half of the cyber fraud cases related to the purchase of vacation packages detected nationwide occur in Quintana Roo, according to Eduardo Paniagua, an advisor from the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies (AMAV). Paniagua expressed concern that insufficient action is being taken to combat this crime.
In 2019, the national average was 250 cyber fraud cases related to vacation sales per hour. Now, that number has increased to 300 to 500 cases per hour, especially during the holiday season. Criminals take advantage of the popularity of destinations like Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, and Puerto Morelos to commit these offenses. Typically, scammers pose as travel agencies or hotel chains, selling fictitious accommodations that victims only discover are fake upon arrival. This not only harms tourists’ finances but also tarnishes the reputation of certain vacation centers.
Interestingly, vacationers often fail to take responsibility for falling victim to such scams, instead blaming the destination, the hotel, or the service provider. These frauds are on the rise, and cybercriminals continually adapt their tactics. The monetary losses from these scams have also increased year after year.
AMAV’s advisor emphasized the importance of collaboration, including efforts from the National Banking Commission and cyber police, to freeze bank accounts where victims unknowingly deposit money.
The fraudsters employ various strategies, including offering incredible prices during peak vacation seasons or bundling supposedly free park tickets, nightclub access, or tours with the listed price. They also exploit social media platforms.
To avoid falling prey to such scams, Paniagua recommends always purchasing vacation packages from duly registered travel agencies and refraining from sharing sensitive banking information.
As reported by REPORTUR.mx, Jonathan Luviano, a representative from Hostech, alerted the public to internet fraud amid the surge of attractive package deals offered by travel agencies in Yucatán via social media. He urged customers to seek reliable companies.
Source: Reportur
