Same old tricks, new disguises

In early July, Hoang Thanh Nhan, 43, from Hanoi, was still fuming when she recounted her recent “resort vacation.” She had booked a three-day, two-night stay at a 5-star hotel in Phu Quoc, with airfare included, for only 5 million VND (approximately 195 USD).

Convinced she'd found a bargain on Facebook, she still questioned why the deal was so cheap. The seller’s responses were persuasive: it was the rainy season in Phu Quoc, so flights were cheap; the area was facing a boycott; and prices were lowered to stimulate tourism.

The combo seller had a verified Facebook page, presented themselves as a travel agent, and displayed countless check-in photos and lively interactions in the comments. But the illusion shattered at the airport. No one came to pick her up, the seller’s phone was unreachable, and the booking code was invalid.

Nhan’s story is far from unique. Across many travel forums, similar experiences are reported: failed hotel bookings, non-existent flight tickets, untraceable travel companies. Low-cost travel combos have become bait for scam operations posing as legitimate tourism businesses, exploiting user trust for financial gain.

These scams are not new, but they evolve with every travel season. Fraudsters now go the extra mile: creating verified personal profiles, using hotel images without permission, and forming private groups filled with fake positive reviews. Some victims are tricked into sending ID photos; others lose money and OTP codes after only a few messages. Transactions often occur silently - no contracts, no addresses, no legal entities.

In a luckier case, Nguyen Thanh Lan, 50, from Hanoi, intended to book two villas at The Five Resort Da Nang for a 5-day, 4-night stay at a discounted price of 88 million VND (about 3,435 USD), down 34 million VND from the original price. Asked to pay a 10 million VND (about 390 USD) deposit, she grew suspicious and called the resort directly, discovering that such prices did not exist.

Another incident involved Nguyen My Huyen, 25, also from Hanoi, who was researching a stay at Lamer Hotel in Thien Cam, Ha Tinh via Facebook. She was confused to find four separate fan pages for the hotel, with the most popular page - boasting the highest follower and interaction count - actually being a fake.

Luckily, she contacted the hotel's hotline before transferring any money and learned that no rooms were available on her desired dates. The fake page had used company bank account details to appear trustworthy, further convincing potential victims.

Stay sharp when deals seem too good

Despite widespread warnings like "never send money to strangers," under the glow of enticing photos and sweet, familiar-sounding messages, many let their guard down. A combo that seems legitimate - with tickets, rooms, and confirmations - might just be a carefully crafted trap.

According to Nguyen Thanh Hang from Skypro Trading and Services, complacency when booking travel services through unofficial channels is a primary reason behind these scams. A verified Facebook badge is no longer a reliable safety sign. Many accounts are purchased, renamed, and used to build fraudulent trust and steal money.

“Consumers should prioritize booking tickets and rooms through reputable platforms or licensed travel companies with transparent addresses and payment methods - or directly via hotel websites,” Hang advises. “Paying in full to an individual without any legal confirmation should always be approached with caution.”

There is no universal method to prevent scams entirely, but some time-tested principles remain essential. According to the Ministry of Public Security, scammers now invest in verified Facebook accounts, renaming them after familiar travel brands to appear credible. Some even run ads to boost visibility. After gaining trust, they request deposits, issue fake booking codes, and pressure full payment.

Citizens are urged to scrutinize social media accounts. Most fraudulent pages are recently created or renamed, with promotional posts dating back only a short time. This information is easy to verify and should raise red flags.

Additionally, cross-checking information from multiple sources - Facebook, TikTok, official business websites, and hotel hotlines - is crucial to avoiding being duped by "just another sweet deal."

The scammers are ready to invest in deception to steal your vacation dreams. Be ready to invest in due diligence.

PV