Information About Travel and Tourism Online Scams
Bogus bookings that target tourism operators qualify as online scams against businesses.
Bogus bookings can be an inconvenience, taking up time and effort, and it can even lead to a loss of a booking opportunity when it takes away revenue from real bookings. In some cases, it may even lead to a full-blown scam, causing loss of real money.
Watch out for scams during the peak season
TIA is receiving reports of international scammers targeting New Zealand tourism industry operators. Be alert!
Scammers often ask accommodation operators to accept extra credit card payments (for example, to pay a rental vehicle company). They will later cancel the booking and ask for the refund to be sent via money order to an overseas bank. The original credit card details then turn out to be stolen or fraudulent.
If you have any doubts about an international booking, ask for an International Money Order rather than accepting credit card payment, and/or refuse to accept extra payments.
Examples: Bogus Bookings
Shahanas Thidil Ibrahim
Comment: The greeting and details of the request are generic, the english is poor, and some of the requests such as 'Limo Hiring' are very strange.
From: "Shahanas Thidil Ibrahim" <shahanas@jangho.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 5, 2017 12:02 AM
Subject: BOOKING REQUEST
Hello,
My name is Donald Cliff a Uk Citizen but i am currently in Hong Kong on a course training program. I am writing this email on behalf of my Hong Kong Friends because they can't speak or write good English.. They will be coming into your country for their first Pre-Season tour vacation visit.
They are just two coulpes
Mr & Mrs Po Chui Yang (41 and 36yrs)
Mr & Mrs Fuhua Shirong(44 and 38yrs)
They want you to prepare a seven (7) days tour programs on BOAT OR CHARTER HIRING or CAR OR LIMO HIRING. They are from Hong Kong and are willing to accept and pay for your offer.
Arrival Date : 20th April, 2017.
Departure Date: 27th April, 2017.
Number of days: 7 Days
Number Of Guests : 4
No of hours: 4hrs per day x 7days
Confirm availability and get back to me with your rates and Total cost of your services. So that i can give you my credit card details for a deposit payment. I am waiting for your reply.
Kindest Regards
Donald cliff
Rechard Robert, Shabas Travelconsultant
Comment: Three (3) email addresses are provided and all are from free services. Google has no results about the company name. The greeting and details of the request are generic.
From: "rechard" <shabas_travelconsult@unionplus.net>
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 7:45 AM
Subject: RESERVATION.................................
Dear sir /ma
I am rechard robert :a Briton and travel consultant ,I discovered your company through the internet and i would like to know if you could handle the cervices stated below
1- if you can arrange hotel resarvation world wide ,tour,traking E.T.C?
2-if you can arrange helth insurance ,visa to your conttry ?
3-if you can handle domestic & , international ticket?
4-if you issue pta ticket ,electronic and mailing ticket?
5-if you can accept the fastest means of payment credit cards like VISA and MASTER CARD
Regards
rechard
Rhcard robert: SHABAS TRAVELCONSULTANT
TELL: (44)7024051340
FAX: (44)8704799739
EMAIL: shabas_travelconsult@unionplus.net
shabas_travelconsult@yahoo.com
M.S.N shabas_travelconsult@hotmail.com
Charles Fonster, Wason And Greson Design
Comment: The website is available but does not contain any information. The greeting and details of the request are generic.
From: <mac@wasonandgreson.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 6:28 PM
Subject: BOOKING DETAILS
Attn Sir/Ma,
Am Charles Fonster,owner of Wason And Greson Design In'c Ltd.UK.
I will like to make an hotel reservation for my staff coming to your country for a 10 day design course organised by my company.
Kindly provide me with the rate for the period below:
Check in :28Th FEBRUARY.2007
Check out:10Th MARCH .2007
DURATION OF STAY:10DAYS
STANDARD ROOM
GUEST FULL NAME:DANEL/ROBBERT/MR BILL/DRUM/MR SOLON/ANN/MRS
Kindly provide me with the total rate for this period and i shall get back to you with the Payment of the total cost of their stay.
I shall be responsible for all the payment for these services and it will be made via my secured redit cards(MasterCard/Visa).
Also note that we will not allowed our Credit cards to be use for Guarantee becost will want to settle the bill before arrivaling of our Guest.
Await your anticipted response and co-operation.
Regards,
Charles Fonster
Michael Blake
From: "Michael Blake" <michael.blake@bluebottle.com>
Sent: Thursday, 1 May, 2008 9:37:58 AM
Subject: Pls Confirm Back
Hello Barbara Scott,
Its good to read from you again and like i said in my previous email that 100% of the total Invoice i will pay upon your confirmation via my credit card.
I equally wish to inform you that i have also made an arrangement with a Ticketting/Tour Agent that will take care of all of my logistics before, during and after my entire stay.However, for the pupose of security and because they do not have credit card facility, i have decided that YOU alone handle my credit card information.
So,once you receive my visa card information,
1.You are required to charge the total amount of $89250 then
2.Deduct your 100% deposit which is $925 and
3.You will be sending the balance of $8000 to the Ticketting Agent whose information i will forward to you once this arrangement is confirmed.
N.B Balances and further expenses incured will be made at departure.
So confirm this and provide me with your:
1.FULL NAMES
2.ADDRESS
3.PHONE NUMBERS for office records.
You are also to deduct the visa fees and taxes involved in processing this amount. PLEASE CONFIRM IF THIS ARRANGEMENT IS OK AND REPLY PROMPTLY TO ENABLE ME PROCEED.
Best Regards,
Michael Blake
Dr Tom Bradly
Submitted by 2 Acres @ Wharetutu:
Hi, just thought I would let you know that we have received this email for a booking. Something doesn't seem quite right, as we got a similar one a few weeks ago, but signed off by a different person. I looked up both names on the UK white pages, nothing came up for them.
Comment: The Yahoo! account was created 15-Jan-07, one day before the email was sent out. The greeting and details of the request are generic.
From: "Tom Bradly" <drbradlytravels2@yahoo.co.uk>
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 1:57 PM
Subject: BOOKING REQUEST
Good Day,
I wish to book reservation for 6 delegates coming to your country for holiday and also the dates will be on Feb.5th to Feb.15th 2007.
However, they will be 6 delegates and what they need is 3 rooms. So calculate and let me know the total amount involved for the whole services including breakfast and taxes in 10 days, which they have to stay in your house.
What could be the total cost for the whole services? Get back to me if the dates mentioned above are free, so that we can book reservations immediately. Thank you and have a nice day.
Kind Regards
Dr Tom Bradly
Silver Lane
West Challow
Oxfordshire
OX12 9TJ
England
UK
+44 702 407 9694
Edwin Calfmaya, Springvale
Comment: The Yahoo! account was created one day before the email was sent out. Google has no results about the person's name or the company name. ABTA does not list this company as a member. The greeting and details of the request are generic.
From: "edwin calfmaya tourism" <edwin.calfmaya_tourismscenter@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 6:16 AM
Subject: Urgent Booking.....
Hello Dear,
I am Edwin Calfmaya,I will like book reservation for some delegates that will be coming for summit in your area on the 20th april till 30th april 2007.If you have vacancy for the specified period, give me the total cost for the whole period of 4 single or double rooms for 10 nights for 4 guest.
Also, confirm if you will accept major credit card for your payment. Again, Breakfast will be included. Thank you and looking forward to hearing from soon.
The total cost should be in Pounds/Euros or USdollars.
EDWIN CALFMAYA.
SPRINGVALE TRAVELLING AGNECY CONSULTS.
38 Codenham Straight Basildon
Essex SS16 5DH
United Kingdom
MOBLIE LINE: +447031908776
Hackett Jack
Comment: Web site: socialworker.net exists. The Yahoo! account was created on 11/07/2007 shortly before the email was sent out. Email sent 28th July 2007.
Am Hackett Jack, the tour reservation manager of Soical Tour Group,Please i would like to make an Inquiries with your company in booking of flight ticket group its an urgent booking.
Our Company Mode Of Payment: Visa And Master Kindly advise us on the availability Airline,itinerary and the cost of the tickets, we will give you with the passengers details and the company secured Debit Card and a letter of Authorization to debit the company credit card for the payment.
Airline:Air France,Ethiopian Airline,Kenya AirWays,Turkish Airline,
I will be waiting for your reply mail
Hackett Jack
Tour Manager
Email: socialtourgroup@socialworker.net
socialtourgroup@yahoo.com
Silvester
Comment: The Yahoo! account, (silvester_leb1@yahoo.co.uk), was created on 11/05/2006. No online profile information available for the Hotmail account (silvester_leb@hotmail.com). Email sent 29th July 2007.
Dear Sir/ Ma,
Good morning and How are you today, I will like you to make the below booking for me.
ROUTE: AUCKLAND---SYDNEY---AUCKLAND
DEPART: 28TH JULY
RETURN: 5TH AUG
AIRLINE: ANY AVAILABEL AIRLINE
CLASS: ECONOMY
PAX NAME: PETER / JENNY MRS
ROUTE: LAGOS---PARIS---LAGOS
DEPART: 7TH AUG
RETURN: 15TH SEPT
AIRLINE: AIR FRANCE
CLASS: ECONOMY
PAX NAME: KAYODE / TOYIN MR
Await the itinerary and fare for the above booking and i will also like you to join me on MSN or YAHOO chatting
my ids are {silvester_leb@hotmail.com or silvester_leb1@yahoo.co.uk}.
Regards
Silvester
Nicholas Forbes, UK
Comment: Email sent from general.consult80@hotmail.com on 29th July 2007.
Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Mr Nicholas Forbes,I want to make reservation at your property for (4) couples that wish to spend their vacation with you.
Check in : 15th OCTOBER 2007
Check out : 25th OCTOBER 2007
DURATION OF STAY:10 Days
NUMBER OF GUESTS: 8
I wish to confirm the following information with your hotel,
(a). Do you still have accommodation available on the above dates?
(b). What is the total cost for the entire stay including all the applicable taxes and meals?
(c). Do you take credit card payment?
(d). Do you have P.O.S machine? because,i wouldn't want a third party involve in my credit card information.
Note:kindly state the total cost in Dollars/Euro. They will require single rooms or preferably double rooms (Any of both that will be available).Please provide the total cost for their entire length of stay if the above dates i mentioned will be available So that we can secure the reservation with my Credit Card details.Your prompt response will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Nicholas Forbes
GENERAL CONSULATE
Affiliate of British Airways
P.O. Box 6743
Sudbury, Suffolk
CO10 2PG, UK
Tel: +44 704 5707527
Fax: +44-871 2563610
Let's Help Each Other - Share Information
Any kind of scam—especially online and email scams—only succeed because no one warned us about it. Sharing information with each other will help each of us avoid being a victim of this electronic crime.
Please contact us if you have any information that can help other tourism operators.
Useful Links for Tourism Operators
Scamwatch - an online service operated by the New Zealand Ministry of Consumer Affairs to warn local consumers about specific types of financial scams from overseas sources. They have a list of reported scams.
Ammonet - provides up to date information about, and examples of, internet and email scams.
SCAMwatch - provides information from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.
Scamdex - a searchable, indexed archive of scams received by email.
OnGuardOnline.gov - practical tips against Internet fraud (US federal government).
