You've booked your accommodation online without payment in advance and are looking forward to your holiday, but suddenly a supposed hotel representative contacts you and wants to change the terms and conditions, demanding payment in advance? Stop by, check the terms and conditions of your reservation, and make sure you know who you are really talking to.
Ways the scammer will contact you
- They may call you and claim to be a representative of various organisations providing services you need when you travel. They may text you via chat and mimic the graphics of a booking app, hotel or travel agent.
- They may also slightly alter the address from which the company communicates and send a fake email.
- Or they may use a combination of all these methods. In short, the scammer is trying to get the best out of you. And he doesn't have to work alone. Sometimes it's an organized group whose members pass the buck to each other. .
How can a thief know any private information about you?
There are still unwanted data leaks that thieves are waiting for. That is why they get to know not only your phone number, full name, address, but even your ID number. More skilled fraudsters can "hack" the hotel directly and get to know the booking number of your reservation. When they call you, they pretend to be a representative of the hotel or other travel-related services and you tend to trust them easily.
How to protect yourself?
- Check who you are communicating with.
- Don't share your account access and passwords or any card numbers with anyone.
- Know the terms and conditions of the services you have ordered and insist on them. The terms and conditions at the time of booking are valid for the entire stay.
You've booked your accommodation online without payment in advance and are looking forward to your holiday, but suddenly a supposed hotel representative contacts you and wants to change the terms and conditions, demanding payment in advance? Stop by, check the terms and conditions of your reservation, and make sure you know who you are really talking to.
Ways the scammer will contact you
- They may call you and claim to be a representative of various organisations providing services you need when you travel. They may text you via chat and mimic the graphics of a booking app, hotel or travel agent.
- They may also slightly alter the address from which the company communicates and send a fake email.
- Or they may use a combination of all these methods. In short, the scammer is trying to get the best out of you. And he doesn't have to work alone. Sometimes it's an organized group whose members pass the buck to each other. .
How can a thief know any private information about you?
There are still unwanted data leaks that thieves are waiting for. That is why they get to know not only your phone number, full name, address, but even your ID number. More skilled fraudsters can "hack" the hotel directly and get to know the booking number of your reservation. When they call you, they pretend to be a representative of the hotel or other travel-related services and you tend to trust them easily.
How to protect yourself?
- Check who you are communicating with.
- Don't share your account access and passwords or any card numbers with anyone.
- Know the terms and conditions of the services you have ordered and insist on them. The terms and conditions at the time of booking are valid for the entire stay.
The story of Magda and her family from Benešov
Magda was planning a holiday for herself and her family as she does every year. She booked a hotel and entertainment services for her children through a verified accommodation app. As always, she guaranteed the reservation with a credit card, but without payment in advance, as she prefers to pay on the spot. Everything went as usual, and Magda and her family were looking forward to a well-deserved holiday.
After some time, Magda received a phone call from the hotel representative with an offer of airport shuttle, which could be with a discount.