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The 15 Biggest Travel Scams, and How to Avoid Them

The Editors

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You know that old saying “there’s a sucker born every minute”? Don’t be one of them. Stay ahead of these surprisingly effective travel scams to keep your vacation plans from falling apart. The schemes below may be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to travel cons, but preparing yourself for these common swindles is a good place to start.

Vacation Clubs

Wholesale travel clubs claim that you’ll have access to incredibly cheap vacations if you join. However, once you pay the joining fees, you find that the deals offered aren’t any better than what you can find for yourself online—for free. Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott , whose book Scammed lays out a helpful roadmap for being a responsible and effective shopper in a world of corporate swindles, has told SmarterTravel: “I’ve never come across a legitimate travel club. My advice is to run, don’t walk.”

Elliott advises that anyone considering joining a travel club do research with a very critical eye beforehand. Simply doing an internet search for the name of the travel company plus “travel scam” will usually reveal a host of problems experienced by other members. Also check the Better Business Bureau for complaints about the specific service before you buy.

Timeshare Sales

Ed Perkins, a longtime contributing editor at SmarterTravel, calls the up-front fees for selling your timeshare the biggest travel scam out there.

“Scammers promise to get you out from under, saying they have buyers, but all they really do is take a fee, upward of $400, and do nothing,” says Perkins.

Never pay up front to have someone help you sell your timeshare. If you want out, go to a licensed company and check them out with the Better Business Bureau before listing with them. If you’re having trouble getting out of your timeshare , work with a rental company and rent it out to recoup some of the money until you can sell.

Vacation Certificates

Ed Perkins also warns against prepaid vacation certificates: “Travel scams promise really great prices but deliver nothing. The idea here is to get the up-front money, then keep stalling: ‘Sorry, these dates are sold out; try again soon.’ They delay until people just quit trying.” Or the company charges huge additional fees to redeem the certificates, and the trip is considerably less luxurious than promised. Before prepaying for a vacation package, be sure to research fees and blackout dates, as well as the company’s reputation.

“Travel-Agent” Card Mills

Ah, the life of travel agents. Cheap hotels and airfares are thrown at their feet once they pull out their travel-agent ID cards, right? Wrong. Don’t believe the hype from outfits that promise to issue you a travel-agent ID that provides access to discounts. Scammers charge hundreds of dollars for these cards, but victims who shell out will quickly find that no place will accept the fakes, and they never see any discounts. The only way to avoid this travel scam is to not buy a travel-agent card if you’re not a travel agent—there’s really no legal way to get around it.

Car-Rental Collision Damage Waivers

Rick Steves calls the car-rental collision damage waivers (CDW) a “collision damage waiver racket” for a reason. When you rent a car, the company often pressures you to buy a CDW supplement, which will prevent you from having to pay a high insurance deductible if the car is damaged. (The deductible can be thousands of dollars before insurance kicks in.)

But most major credit cards already include deductible collision coverage for free , so check your credit-card terms and pay for the rental car with your credit card. Then you’ll be covered without having to shell out extra cash for phony insurance. Most credit-card collision coverage is secondary, meaning you have to claim from your regular insurance first. If you don’t want a claim on your insurance, you can buy third-party primary collision coverage from the booking agency for about $10-$11 a day. Or, if it’s pricey, you can instead buy coverage from an independent outlet; sites like Bonzah.com offer rental coverage from $7.99 per day. That’s about one-third of what the rental companies charge.

“You Won a Free Trip!”

If you’ve ever dropped your business card in a “win a free trip” drawing at a restaurant or signed up to win at a fair, you may have gotten a phone call, letter, or email claiming you’ve won a free vacation. These days, the hustle is often via robocall. Be wary—many of these “prizes” are actually booby traps in which you’ll have to pay hefty fees to claim the vacation or give your credit card number to “verify your eligibility,” resulting in identity theft. After a recent lull in monitoring these robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again cracking down on them. If you’re scammed, get the names of resorts and airlines included in the prize and call them independently to verify the trip. Never give credit card information to someone who cold-calls you, and be sure to get details of the prize in writing before accepting.

Fake International Driving Permits

The FTC also warns against fake International Driving Permits (IDPs) . Some countries require tourists to have an IDP in addition to a U.S. driver’s license. However, there are only two American associations that are legally authorized to issue IDPs—the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). Fraudulent companies sell fake IDPs over the Internet, but you’ll pay hundreds of dollars for a permit only to face legal problems for using the imposter IDs in another country.

The Bait and Switch

The hotel you’re thinking of booking is suspiciously cheap, but the property’s website makes it look beautiful and centrally located. When you arrive, the hotel is run-down, missing amenities, and in a deserted part of town—and it won’t refund your money. Avoid this travel scam by using websites like Oyster (one of SmarterTravel’s sister sites) and TripAdvisor (SmarterTravel’s parent site) to read real customer reviews and see honest photos of the property.

“Grandparent” Travel Scams

Even if you’re not currently traveling, you can still be the victim of a travel scam: The State Department warns that scammers will call an older relative or friend of someone who’s away on vacation and pretend to be the traveler in desperate need of help. The scammer usually poses as the traveler or a foreign government official and directs the victim to wire a large sum of money, citing an array of things: They have been robbed and need money to return to the United States, or they have run into legal trouble and need bail money. Sometimes the scammer will even pretend to be someone from the U.S. embassy calling on behalf of the relative for money. Never wire money in response to a suspicious phone call; instead contact the State Department to ask if the situation is legitimate, or call your relative directly. If you encounter this scam, the FBI advises you report it to local authorities or a state consumer protection agency. You can also file a complaint with the FCC .

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) offers the following advice to prevent “grandparent” travel scams:

Never give out personal information such as account numbers, Social Security numbers, mothers’ maiden names, passwords, or other identifying information in response to suspicious calls or to callers demanding immediate action. Scammers can spoof the caller ID of their number to make it appear to be from a trusted source. If a caller claiming to represent a company or a government agency asks for personal information, hang up and verify the authenticity of the request by contacting the company or agency yourself, using information found on its official website or through other means such as the phone book. If a caller claims to represent a company with which you have an account—such as a utility or a bank—hang up and check the contact information on a recent bill or statement, then call the company back yourself.

Rental Property Scam

Rule of thumb: Never go to Craigslist (or anything similar) for a rental home. Scammers will place an ad and ask the victim to wire money to secure the vacation rental—and then disappear. Or they’ll have you send money to them rather than to the actual property owner. Avoid the rental scam risk by going through a reputable vacation rental site with protections and insurance guarantees such as Airbnb , HomeAway , or SmarterTravel’s sister site FlipKey , all of which will protect your money from fraudsters.

Bogus Travel Agents

Don’t trust a tour operator or packager you don’t know of or can’t find reviews of easily online—especially with a big payment. An even more worrisome version of these travel scams in the U.S. is fake versions of websites: You search for a hotel or tour and get through to what looks like a legitimate website from a known company. But it isn’t: It’s a copy-cat version run by a scamster who paid a lot of money for a good search engine position. At best, after you make a payment, the hotel will honor your reservation—but probably at a higher price than you should have paid. At worst, you get nothing.

Take a close look at the website’s URL. Unsure if it’s right? Do a new search to find the company’s homepage and compare it to the first half of the link—any rogue characters, numbers, or symbols might mean it’s a fake. You should also never pay for a service via wire transfer, or any other irreversible money-transfer system.

Currency Short-Changing

A longstanding travel scam relies on tourists’ unfamiliarity with a foreign currency. This can take various forms: counterfeit bills, miscounting change, mixing smaller bills into what should be a pile of larger notes, etc. Get to know the bills of any country you visit, and limit the amount of foreign currency you exchange and have with you at any time. Get your foreign currency from an ATM, and put all your big-ticket purchases on a credit card.

Counterfeit Event Tickets

These days, high-tech forging can make almost any piece of paper or cardboard look authentic. Don’t buy a high-priced ticket (or even a low-priced one) to a sold-out event from someone on the street or via an unfamiliar website. You might be turned away at the gate. Buy from an authorized source—the box office or an online dealer that’s a verified reseller.

Fake Tour Guides

Have you ever been walking in a tourist-frequented area and had someone approach you offering to be your guide? Of course, you would have no idea in this situation whether this person has any useful knowledge of the city, but you may be coaxed into a nearby store that they claim offers the “best” prices on local specialties.

Pre-arrange a guide through an official tourism office or a local travel agency so you can compare prices and know what you’re getting. I once arranged the best local guide I ever had through an American Express agency. A university history professor showed us the fantastic National Museum of Damascus in Syria.

Credit Card Fraud

One of many potential credit card fraud risks is the familiar “verification call” gambit. In this travel scam, within a few hours of checking into a hotel, you get a call from someone claiming to be at the front desk to “verify” the details of the card you used. Of course, that caller is a scammer with no connection to the hotel who just wants to get your card data. In this and any other situations, be highly suspicious of anyone who calls you asking for credit or debit card information, no matter how plausible the excuse may seem. Tell the caller you’ll be right down to settle the problem, and instead call a known number, like the hotel’s direct line, to settle whatever account is involved.

More from SmarterTravel:

• How to Avoid Counterfeit Money While Traveling
• 6 Cruise Scams You Should Never Fall For
• Europe Travel Scams to Watch Out For

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2012. It has been updated to reflect the most current information. Caroline Morse Teel and Ed Perkins contributed to this story.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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How To Avoid Travel Agency Scams (And Fake Booking Sites)

Fraudsters advertise cheap travel via fake websites, social media ads, and phishing messages. Learn how to spot and avoid common online travel scams.

Irina Maltseva

Contributor at Aura

Irina Maltseva is a growth marketer with 10+ years of experience in digital marketing. After being scammed by Airbnb and Booking.com, Irina joined Aura to help the company on its mission to create a safer internet for everyone.

Jory MacKay

Aura Cybersecurity Editor

Jory MacKay is a writer and award-winning editor with over a decade of experience for online and print publications. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Victoria and a passion for helping people identify and avoid fraud.

Aura’s app keeps you safe from scams, fraud, and identity theft. Try Aura for free.

In this article:

Aura’s digital security app keeps your family safe from scams, fraud, and identity theft.

Is It Safe To Book With an Online Travel Agent? 

It’s more common than ever for Americans to book travel online, either directly or through a third-party booking site. But is it safe to book travel online? Not always.

Scammers use fake, spoofed, or misleading online travel booking websites to steal your money and passwords or gather personal information that they can use to steal your identity. According to a recent survey [ * ]:

35% of American travelers say they’ve been scammed while booking online travel.

While travel agency scams pose a year-round threat, they become especially dangerous during the holiday scam season when more people are looking for travel deals to visit family or get away on vacations. 

In this guide, we’ll explain how online travel booking scams work, the latest schemes to watch out for, and how you can stay safe and find a great deal on your next flight, hotel, or vacation.

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What Are Travel Agency Scams? How Do They Work?

Travel agency scams occur when fraudsters advertise cheap airfare or “free” vacations on fake websites and social media ads, or through phishing emails, texts, and calls — and then trick you into sharing sensitive information or sending money.

What makes travel booking scams so dangerous is that travelers are accustomed to providing payment and personal information when paying for flights. This includes everything from your credit card numbers to your Social Security number (SSN), passport details, and full address. 

If scammers get access to this kind of personal information, they can use it to steal your identity , empty your bank account, or take over your online accounts .

Here’s how a typical travel agency scam works: 

• Fraudsters create fake travel agencies, or they spoof popular booking sites like Booking.com and Expedia . Most travel scams involve fake — but legitimate-looking — websites for travel companies. Fraudsters may create their own discount travel websites or even spoof popular booking sites. Some scammers even post fake support phone numbers on Google in hopes that you’ll call them when you need to book or change flight details.
• When you call or book online, you’re asked for personal and financial information. These scam services are designed to harvest your personal information or steal your payment details. Even if you end up with a legitimate flight, your information can be sold online to other scammers or identity thieves. (Stolen and forged American passports sell for an average of $850 on the Dark Web [ * ].)
• After booking, you discover that the flight details are different. Fraudulent airline ticket confirmation numbers won’t match real flights, and hotels won’t know about your reservation. If you try to call the “agency” back to resolve these issues, either their number will be disconnected or they’ll pressure you into paying more to “solve” the problem.

While some travel scams are flat out fraud, others are run by legitimate companies that charge excessive add-on fees, have non-existent refund policies, or sell misleading offers at too-good-to-be true discounts. 

The bottom line: Falling for a travel agency scam can put you and your family at risk of fraud or even identity theft. Consider protecting yourself with Aura’s all-in-one digital security solution. Learn more about how Aura keeps you safe from scams, fraud, and identity theft →

The 5 Latest Travel Agency and Online Booking Scams

• Spoofed Booking.com , Expedia , and other booking sites
• Unfamiliar websites offering bargain deals for expensive flights
• Fraudulent airline customer support numbers in Google searches
• Robocalls or messages offering "free" vacation packages
• Follow-up phone calls asking for more information about your booking

Creating online travel and airline scams isa high priority for scammers who know that people are willing to pay serious money and provide sensitive information to get good deals on flights and hotels. 

Here are some of the latest online booking scams to look out for.

1. Spoofed Booking.com , Expedia , and other booking sites

Scammers know that many people who book travel online trust sites like Expedia , Booking.com , and Airbnb . 

In this scam, fraudsters create look-alike websites to mirror these booking platforms, and then link to them via phishing emails or social media ads. But if you book a flight, hotel, or vacation rental through one of these spoofed sites, you’ll lose your money and hand over sensitive information to cybercriminals.

These look-alikes aren’t limited to booking sites. Scammers also spoof major airline carriers — phishing for airline credentials and stealing credit card information that users store in their accounts. 

How to spot and avoid a fake or spoofed travel booking website:

• Double-check the URL. Scammers create websites with URLs that look similar to sites with which you’re familiar (such as Airbnb-booking.com ). Always make sure you’re on the company’s official domain before entering any information. For added protection, check the site’s SSL certificate by clicking on the padlock icon next to the URL, and make sure it was issued to the travel company through which you’re trying to book your reservation.  
• Hover over links in emails before clicking. If you receive an email or see an ad promoting a travel deal, check the link before clicking to ensure that it leads to the company’s official website. 
• Be wary if your usual login information doesn’t work. Fake websites won’t know your username and password. If you get an error when trying to log in, or if you’re redirected back to the login page, you may have given your password to fraudsters. Quickly log in and change your credentials to secure your account.  ‍
• Don’t store financial data in your loyalty accounts. Scammers can crack your password or steal it from a bogus site, giving them full access to your credit card details. Although inconvenient, it’s much safer to physically type in your credit card or loyalty plan number each time you make a purchase.

2. Sketchy travel agencies offering bargain deals for expensive flights

One of the most common travel booking scams involves con artists advertising cheap travel packages on social media platforms or via phishing scams. But this is much more elaborate than just a fake ticket scam. 

Fraudsters purchase and sell what’s called a “reservation hold.” This is a tool used by legitimate travel agencies to hold a ticket price without paying the full amount. When you purchase a “hold,” you receive an official email or text from the airline with a booking confirmation number that works — but only for a week, until the hold expires. 

How to spot and avoid a discount travel scam:

• Avoid “too good to be true” deals. Heavily discounted plane tickets or vacation deals are red flags. If you can’t find the same or a similar deal on the airline’s website (or on trustworthy third-party booking sites), it’s most likely a scam. 
• Always request that an e-ticket number be sent to you. Holds can look identical to travel confirmations but won’t contain a ticket number. If you haven’t given up your payment information yet, don’t — it’s a scam.

💡 Related: How To Spot and Avoid the Latest Airline Scams →

3. Fraudulent airline customer support numbers in Google searches

Scammers list their phone numbers as airline customer service hotlines to attract a constant flow of potential victims. People desperate to change or rebook their flights search for the airline’s customer service phone number via Google, and call one of the first results to show up — not realizing that it may have been manipulated by scammers. 

How to tell if you’ve called a spam number:

• You called a number that appeared in a Google search. Victims have reported calling spoofed customer service numbers that appeared to be from Air France , Delta , American Airlines , and Southwest Airlines [ * ]. The best way to ensure that you call a verified support line is to go to the airline’s official website, find its customer service center, and call the number listed there.
• You’re redirected multiple times. Scammers use technology to spoof their phone numbers to include U.S.-based area codes. When you call those numbers, you’ll speak to someone who redirects you to an international phone number. This may happen several times before you speak with a “representative.”
• They send you texts from a different number. Help desk employees send a confirmation to you via text from a phone number you’ve never seen before. Sometimes, these texts contain spelling or grammatical errors or incorrect flight information.

💡 Related: How To Identify a Scammer On The Phone (With Examples) →

4. Robocalls or messages offering "free" vacation packages

While the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) prevents legitimate telemarketing companies from calling you without your consent, scammers still use robocalls to target millions of potential victims every day [ * ]. 

One of the most popular schemes involves offering “free” vacation packages, or claiming you’re the winner of a sweepstakes you never entered. If you accept the prize, you end up either paying more for a bad vacation — or worse. 

Here’s what could happen on a “free” vacation:

• You’re hard-sold during a timeshare presentation. As part of the “prize,” fraudsters may pressure you into buying into an expensive real estate timeshare in Mexico (or other foreign countries).
• You have to pay for taxes, fees, and other hidden costs. While the flight and hotel may be free, scammers ask for your credit card information to pay for expensive (and unmentioned) fees, taxes, and costs. 
• Your hotel and flight are significantly worse than promised. When you ask specific questions about accommodations and activities, scammers say it’s “highly rated” or “luxury” instead of providing concrete details. You’re almost certainly not getting a five-star hotel for free from a random robocall.
• You won’t have travel insurance. These holidays won’t offer or be covered by travel insurance, meaning that if you have a medical emergency, or if a natural disaster prevents you from traveling, you’ll be on the hook. 

The bottom line: If you’re offered or told that you’ve won a free vacation from a random robocall, it’s a scam. To keep you safe, Aura uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically screen your incoming calls and texts, and can block scammers before they reach you. Learn more about how Aura saves you from spam and scams →

5. Follow-up phone calls asking for more information about your booking

In this sophisticated scam, fraudsters use cheap or last-minute flights as bait — and then call you directly after you book to claim that there was an issue with your personal information, credit card, or the flight itself. 

For example, they may claim they need your SSN to “secure” your ticket, or that your credit card was declined and you will lose the ticket unless you use a wire transfer or payment app. 

How to tell if someone is scamming you over the phone:

• They called you. Consider any incoming call from an unfamiliar number or person a red flag. If someone calls you claiming to be from an airline or travel agency, hang up and call them back via the company’s official phone number. 
• You’re put under pressure to act now . Phone scammers want you to act while they have you on the phone. If someone threatens you with fees or “losing” a flight that you’ve already paid for, this is a huge red flag. 
• You’re asked to pay via alternative methods. Legitimate companies will not ask you to pay via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrencies, or payment apps like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App. Always try to book and pay with your credit card, as it offers the highest level of consumer and fraud protections.

Did You Fall for a Travel Agency Scam? Do This

Whether you sent money or gave sensitive information to a fake travel booking site, you need to act quickly to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft. 

Here’s what to do if you think you’ve been the victim of a travel agency scam: 

• Secure your identity and online accounts. Fake travel booking websites can steal your passwords or give hackers enough information to access your other online accounts (email, online banking, etc.). Make sure you’re using unique and strong passwords across all of your accounts. For added security, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible. 
• Freeze your credit. A credit freeze can prevent fraudsters from using your stolen information to take out loans or open accounts in your name. To freeze your credit, contact each of the three credit bureaus individually: TransUnion , Experian , and Equifax .
• File a report with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). An official identity theft report with the FTC is required to dispute fraud and protect you against some of the worst dangers of identity theft . You can file a report online at IdentityTheft.gov. 
• Check your bank and credit statements. Carefully review your latest transactions, and look for any suspicious activity. You can also run a free credit report on AnnualCreditReport.com to look for signs of identity theft, such as unfamiliar loans, accounts, or mortgages.
• Notify your bank’s fraud department. Call your bank’s official customer service line and ask to close any compromised accounts or cards. They’ll be able to help you open new ones and recommend additional security features.
• Report the scam to the proper authorities. There are different agencies to contact, depending on the type of scam to which you’ve fallen prey (and what happened). If you have information that could lead to an arrest, file a police report with local law enforcement. To file a consumer complaint against a company in the travel industry, contact your state’s attorney general’s office . You can also help protect other victims by reporting the scam to the FBI and the FTC.
• Try to get your money back. Your ability to get a refund after a scam depends on the payment method used. For example, if you sent a scammer gift cards, contact the company or retailer from which you bought the cards. For payment apps like Venmo or Zelle, you can try to reverse pending payments. Here’s a full guide on how to get your money back . 
• Monitor your passport numbers and other sensitive information. Scammers may wait to use your stolen personal information, which is why it’s so important to monitor your identity and credit. Try Aura’s award-winning identity theft protection solution free for 14 days to monitor your sensitive information and get access to 24/7 White Glove Fraud Resolution support and up to $5 million in identity theft insurance. 

How To Stay Safe While Booking Online Travel

While everyone would love to get a great deal on their next trip, legitimate deals are hard to find. 

The truth is that, in most cases, the best and safest thing you can do is book through official channels. It may cost a bit more, but you’ll know that your flight is real and that you’ll have access to proper support in the case of a problem. 

If you choose to use a third-party booking site or travel agency, make sure you follow these steps to keep yourself and your family safe: 

• Google “travel agencies” and check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Do a Google search for [Agency/website] + “scam” or “fraud” to find reviews or warnings from previous customers. You can also check the company’s reviews on the Better Business Bureau ’s website.
• Use standard payment methods. Credit card providers offer fraud protection and limited liability if you do get scammed — which is much safer compared to other payment options such as debit cards, payment apps, wire transfers, and gift cards. 
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) when shopping for flights. A VPN will block your location, IP address, and other information from websites, making it harder for scammers to target you with tailored airline scams. As an added bonus, using a VPN can often uncover legitimate deals on flights. 
• Don’t disclose personal information over the phone. If someone calls you and requests sensitive information — such as your passport details , SSN, credit card numbers, or 2FA codes — it’s almost certainly a scam. Hang up, and contact the company or agency directly. 

Booking travel online doesn’t have to be risky — especially if you protect yourself with Aura’s all-in-one digital security solution. 

With Aura, you get award-winning identity theft protection with the industry’s fastest fraud alerts, advanced digital security tools to protect you from hacking and online scams, 24/7 U.S.-based White Glove Fraud Resolution support, and up to $5 million in identity theft insurance for you and your family. 

Don’t let travel scammers ruin your trip. Try Aura free for 14 days .

Award-winning identity theft protection with AI-powered digital security tools, 24/7 White Glove support, and more. Try Aura for free.

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The weirdly common, very expensive travel scam you should avoid

Do not click on that travel website (probably).

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Kathy could have sworn she called Qatar Airways to change her flight last spring. Looking through her call records now, she clearly didn’t. Instead, she wound up talking to a third-party booker called Infinity Travels. She has paid Infinity thousands of dollars she may never get back, even after spending countless hours trying.

Her labyrinth of a saga is hard to keep straight. In November 2022, she realized she would need to fly back home to Canada early from a trip to visit her husband in the Middle East scheduled for the following March. She called to make the switch. Kathy, who asked to withhold her last name to protect her privacy, spent six hours on the phone in the endeavor.

Initially, she says she was told she’d need to spend 1,650 Canadian dollars on a new flight and would get a CA$2,700 credit from the airline — she wanted a refund, not a credit, and was transferred to a supposed supervisor. The next agent told her she needed to pay CA$6,990 for the new flight and that she’d receive a refund of CA$8,080 after she had taken her departing flights. She took the deal, which was confirmed in an email from Infinity. “It was dumb of me,” she says. “But by this time it was 1 am and I was so tired.”

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That refund never came through, and Kathy has been locked in a battle with Infinity for months, which is taking place over WhatsApp and the phone. Infinity claimed the initial agent who offered her the refund was fired for making unauthorized deals. A subsequent agent she spoke to — while on her vacation — told her they would refund CA$4,250, nearly half the original amount promised. That was supposed to come through if she agreed not to dispute the CA$6,990 charge, which she did. That agent seems to have disappeared, too, after allegedly being promoted to a new job.

Kathy isn’t sure how she found that wrong number to make her flight change, but it seems likely she did an internet search and called the number that came up without checking its provenance. “It’s incredibly frustrating,” she says. “For me, the money sucks to lose, but it’s more like how are they getting away with doing this? Because I’m sure there are other people.”

There are. A look at TrustPilot and the Better Business Bureau shows others have had similarly confusing experiences with Infinity.

People all over the world get sucked into a variety of travel-related schemes and scams all the time. In this day and age of vacation, sketchy websites and companies and third-party bookers abound.

Third-party booking websites and companies — meaning entities consumers can use to handle reservations without dealing directly with, for example, an airline — are everywhere. Not all of them are bad. Plenty of people use them without issue all the time, including popular ones such as Expedia, Travelocity, and Booking.com. But some of them employ shady and even fraudulent tactics.

These operations seek to get consumers’ money by saying they’ll take care of their travel plans, booking their plane tickets, hotels, and rental cars, or even helping them get their passports faster. They then go on to charge exorbitant fees for executing the transaction or making minor changes and often give consumers the runaround. Sometimes, they never reserve anything at all. Victims of these scams show up at the airport for a flight that doesn’t exist, or appear at a hotel to sleep in a room that was never booked, and their money’s just gone.

Feelings can run high when people travel, whether they’re going to an event or spending time with family and friends or just getting a much-needed and much-anticipated break. “That’s one thing scammers prey on,” said Melanie McGovern, director of public relations and social media for the International Association of Better Business Bureaus, “the emotion of it all.”

Kathy’s emotions got the better of her the night she made that payment to Infinity — endless hours on the phone will do that to you. Since then, she has gotten about CA$325 back from Qatar Airways. After months of wrangling (and after I reached out for comment for this story), Infinity returned CA$1,816 to her. She’s got all of the documentation from the ordeal: emails, text messages, recorded phone calls. It’s just not clear whether any of that matters.

Kathy still has that number she first called saved in her phone as “Qatar Airways Help,” even though that’s not what it is. When you call the number now, the person on the other end of the line simply says, “Reservations.” It’s easy to see how people get tricked.

Qatar Airways said in a statement that Infinity is a travel agent that is entitled to sell its tickets, like many others, but that as an airline, “we do not forward phone calls to travel agents, and we do not accept agents making promises on our behalf.” Infinity said in an email it was “disappointed to hear about the poor experience by this individual” and did not respond to a follow-up email.

One of the primary ways fraudulent third-party companies suck people in is with the promise of a deal. They offer a price that seems too good to be true — because it is — and people’s internet-driven deal-hunting instincts take over.

“The biggest thing we see are the people who are using a third-party website trying to get something a little bit cheaper,” McGovern said. “We know travel can be really, really expensive, and ... people are trying to find an alternative.”

That’s what happened to Sarah, who asked for her last name to be withheld to protect her privacy, when she was trying to snag a flight to Iceland to see the northern lights in late 2022. Most of the flights she found were above her $800 budget, but she found one option for $755 from a website called Travelcation. After booking the trip, she received an email from the company saying the fare she had agreed to was no longer available and had increased to $995.

Sarah noted the email had weird language and grammatical errors, as did the company’s website, upon further inspection. She then googled “Travelcation scams.” “I started reading these horror stories,” she says. She responded to the email saying she didn’t agree to the new price and alerted her bank that any attempted charge would be unauthorized. “My card never ended up getting charged, so I managed to avoid the worst of it,” she says. She took a budget-friendlier trip to Puerto Rico instead.

A spokesperson for Travelcation said in an email that in the travel industry it’s “not uncommon” for prices to fluctuate because of issues such as airline ticket availability, dynamic pricing, taxes, fees, and other charges added during the booking process.

What is uncommon, or at least should be, is for prices to fluctuate after booking.

Reporting for this story, I spoke with multiple experts and individuals about their experiences with scammy websites and travel agencies and combed through complaints to the Better Business Bureau. Many of the strategies these entities employ are quite simple — and effective.

Some websites will figure out how to game search engines like Google . Travelers might think they’re calling Delta or Hilton or Hertz but are actually on the phone with someone else because they just called whatever number came up in search results or on some website without verifying it’s right. The numbers can be completely different from the actual phone number, or they might be one or two off — and 888 instead of 800.

In the same vein, consumers wind up on these websites because they appear in their searches, sometimes because those websites have paid to rank higher. People then book there, not realizing the website is untrustworthy. The site in question then follows up with a call or email saying that the price of the booking has increased to try to squeeze more out of consumers there, or they charge super-high fees for small changes. (Assuming they make the booking at all, which doesn’t always happen.)

Jim still isn’t entirely sure how he wound up in his predicament. He called Delta’s phone number on a voice over internet service (VoIP) to book a flight to San Francisco; in his first interaction, everything seemed fine. He got a confirmation email from a company called Boketo, not Delta, but he didn’t immediately notice. A while later, he realized his middle initial was incorrect on the reservation, so he called to change it. After agreeing to pay $200 and receiving a follow-up email, this time from an outfit called Travel Makers, it dawned on him he had been duped. “That’s when I recognized that I’m an idiot,” he says.

Jim reported the charges as fraud to his credit card company, which he thought would be the end of it. But in the lead-up to his trip, he says the agent he first dealt with began calling him and harassing him, saying she would not issue his tickets unless he restored the $200 payment. In the end, the flights went just fine, although Jim was worried until he successfully boarded his plane. He asked for his last name to be withheld out of fear of more harassment from the agent.

Jim’s phone records show he did indeed call Delta’s real number, which is quite disturbing. A spokesperson for Delta recommended consumers take extra precautions when using VoIP internet calling to make sure their service is secure. “Whenever we become aware of an alleged scam targeting our customers, including in this situation, we immediately conduct an investigation. Using the facts gained from an investigation, when able, we can then address each unique situation as appropriate with the necessary legal means at our disposal,” the spokesperson said.

Boketo did not respond to a request for comment for this story. When I reached out to Travel Makers for comment, someone purporting to be from the company said that it has nothing to do with Boketo and that the situation “seems like a case of misplaced anger.” They defended the extra $200 charge. Their email address was listed as Fly Cheapest Online.

There is no surefire way to scam-proof your life or even your next vacation, but there are measures you can take to try to protect yourself.

The first step is really to slow down, take a deep breath, and pay attention to what you’re doing, said Amy Nofziger, the director of fraud victim support with AARP. It’s not always easy — people’s lives are busy, and we’re often distracted or in a hurry or stressed. But those situations are where we’re likeliest to make mistakes.

Nofziger also said to be wary of offers that are really out of step with the rest of the market. “If you find the best deal on a flight or on a car, I would be really suspect of why it’s the best deal. Go into this with the mindset that I think this is a scam until I’m proven otherwise,” she says. “Even if you think you’re going to get the deal of the century, they’re going to get the deal of the century, not you.”

If the website’s charging you $500 less than everywhere else, question why that might be. Yes, it feels good to beat the system, but there might not be a system to beat. This goes not only for hotels and flights but also, for example, for expedited passport processing, which Nofziger says AARP gets complaints about weekly. Consumers pay some website extra to get their passports faster, only to hand over sensitive personal information in exchange for no quicker service. “There really is no ‘beat the system’ with the State Department,” she says. “I suggest everyone pull their passport out today, look at when it expires, and start the process.”

If you see a website offering what appears to be a good deal, open up another browser and type the name of that site in along with words like “scam,” “fraud,” and “reviews.” You might save yourself a real headache, depending on what you find. “Do your research,” McGovern says.

Experts say it generally is better to book directly with the hotel or airline or whatever you’re trying to accomplish, or at least to start there. And triple-check the number you’re calling. Really. “Travel agents can be reputable ... but you need to be clear that who you’re talking to is who you intended to talk to,” says Summer Hull, director of content at The Points Guy. “If you intended to talk to American Airlines and you’re now talking to a travel agency, that’s a red flag.”

You should also be suspicious if you get a follow-up phone call asking for more information. “Never provide personal information to an inbound call, even to an airline,” Hull says. “They should not be calling you to ask for your confirmation number or your credit card number or your flight plan,” she said. If you’re not sure it’s legitimate, say you’ll call them back.

There can be some recourse in the event you are scammed. You can try to dispute charges as fraud with your credit card company, which is why it’s always best to pay with a credit card (and not with Venmo, crypto, or a prepaid card). You can also report your experiences on websites such as the Better Business Bureau, TrustPilot, and other places, and, if necessary, contact law enforcement. Still, options are limited.

“Most people don’t think they’re ever going to be scammed, but unfortunately, I’ve had this job for 21 years, and I don’t see it going away anytime soon,” Nofziger says.

As for Kathy, she remains stuck in what feels like a doom loop, most of her refund still pending.

We live in a world that’s constantly trying to sucker us and trick us, where we’re always surrounded by scams big and small. It can feel impossible to navigate. Every two weeks, join Emily Stewart to look at all the little ways our economic systems control and manipulate the average person. Welcome to The Big Squeeze .

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Have I been scammed out of thousands by a fake travel agent?

I paid a total of £3,000 to the company, but it didn’t appear to make flight bookings

I appear to have been scammed by a fake travel agent. Needing to get my wife and three children back from an emergency visit to Pakistan, I used a firm called Sevenseaholidays.co.uk to book Qatar Airways flights – for me to travel out, and for all of us to return.

Sevenseaholiday s sent me two invoices to pay by bank transfer, into two different bank accounts. After I paid £1,180 I was given the reference numbers, and invited to check the reservation on the Qatar Airways website.

A few days later it emerged that people coming to the UK via Qatar would have to self-isolate in a hotel, so I called the company, and requested the reservations be changed to direct flights, for which I sent a further £983.

I was then told that I had paid the money into the wrong account, and that I would lose the flights unless I paid this sum again into the right bank account. I was promised a refund of the £983 overpayment, but this failed to materialise.

When it asked for a further £500 to provide the direct flights, I started to think this was a scam. I have since discovered that my Qatar flights had been cancelled, and British Airways has no record of my direct flight booking.

I reported it to my bank HSBC, which has refunded £590 of the £3,000 I’d paid, and to Action Fraud. However, the company still seems to be trading.

FR , London

Legitimate firms are usually happy to engage with us when we take up complaints like these, but Sevenseaholidays has not. I have called the firm twice and been cut off both times, and then found both of my phone numbers blocked. It has not responded to emails either.

The company, which advertises on Facebook and has an address in Blackpool, has been called out for falsely claiming to be a member of Abta. In February, a legitimate travel agent, World Travel Lounge, said it had reported the firm you bought your tickets from to Lancashire Constabulary, Action Fraud and the Civil Aviation Authority for fraudulently using its Atol licence.

Another travel agent with a similar name, 7SeasHolidays, has a warning on its website saying that it is in no way connected to Sevenseaholidays.

On the basis that you think you have been defrauded, you need to file an authorised push payment fraud claim with your bank. HSBC is one of the banks that has signed up to refund innocent victims of such scams. I have sent your letter on to HSBC, have explained the position, and will report back if it fails to refund you. You should contact Lancashire police too and local trading standards.

In the meantime, others need to be aware of what this firm is doing. It’s always worth Googling a firm you have never heard of before sending it any money – and being very wary of any firm that asks for bank transfers rather than the traditional card payments. Just as Money went to press, it emerged the City of London police had taken Sevenseaholidays’ website offline.

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Bogus travel agent who pretended to have cancer sentenced

Lyne barlow admitted to defrauding friends, family and hundreds of customers, article bookmarked.

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A travel agent was facing a lengthy jail term after she admitted defrauding friends, family and hundreds of customers who bought holidays from her in a £2.6 million con.

Lyne Barlow, 39, who previously lived in Stanley, County Durham , was the subject of a lengthy police investigation after victims came forward in 2020 to allege they had not received holidays they had paid for.

She will appear at Durham Crown Court today after she admitted theft of £500,000 from one person, 10 counts of fraud and a money laundering charge totalling £1,688,220.

Barlow claimed to be suffering from a terminal illness while she was carrying out the con, the court heard at a previous hearing. She did much untold damage to local travel agents who simply could not compete at the unrealistic prices

Her first victims were family and friends and she used their savings before setting up an independent travel agency, in which she fraudulently sold holidays, claiming them to be ATOL and ABTA protected, Durham Police said.

• Daughter charged after mom's body found in Chicago freezer
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But many of her customers were to find that the holidays they booked through her business were never paid for by her.

She did much untold damage to local travel agents who simply could not compete at the unrealistic prices

A local travel industry source said Barlow would offer deals such as a five star all-inclusive week in Dubai for just £500.

The source said: “She did much untold damage to local travel agents who simply could not compete at the unrealistic prices.

“We tried to tell numerous people it wasn’t right but as some people were travelling and getting the holidays at these prices – she was clearly funding the shortfall with other people’s money – they wouldn’t believe it.

“We even contacted her ourselves and tried to call her out but she wasn’t fazed in the least and actually tried to recruit us to work for her.

“She lied about having the relevant licences to trade.

“We contacted police but were informed that as people were getting their holidays, at this point there was nothing they could do.

“People were literally throwing money at her.”

The industry source said: “Barlow told her customers the reason her holidays were so cheap was because travel agents – legitimate ones – were charging large mark-ups on holidays, when in fact it was her prices that were too good to be true.”

The court heard previously that the prosecution claimed the total of offending reached £2.6 million, though the defence will challenge that figure.

After she admitted the charges, judge James Adkin granted her bail but warned her: “It’s prison, and a long prison sentence.”

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A New York Defense Attorney Explains Crimes Involving Bogus Travel Agents

While agents and agencies provide a valuable service, there are some situations where travel agency fraud or travel agent fraud occurs. This can happen when individuals or businesses pose as travel agents even though they are not actually in the industry. Travel agency fraud can occur in person, but is also common online.

If you are accused of involvement with a travel agency fraud scam, you should be aware you can be charged with serious criminal offenses. Travel agency owners and those who have posed as travel agents have been faced with federal charges for offenses like mail and wire fraud . Paying restitution is typically required following a conviction, and defendants in travel fraud cases could also be imprisoned- sometimes for a lengthy period of time.

You should not try to handle cases of travel agency fraud on your own. You need to be aggressive in defending yourself when accusations are raised because of the severity of the possible criminal charges. Bukh Law Firm, PLLC has extensive experience providing legal defense services to those accused of involvement with travel agency fraud. When you need a NY fraud lawyer who you can trust to help you develop a strategic defense strategy, give us a call right away .

What is Travel Agency Fraud?

Travel agency fraud broadly involves any scheme in which a travel agent, or someone posing as a travel agent, makes false or misleading claims or statements. Travel agency fraud can also involve material omissions, knowing that customers are relying on you for information.

Travel agency fraud on the Internet can involve the creation of fake travel agency websites. Consumers book trips on these sites and provide their credit card and personal identifying information . The credit card may be used or the numbers sold, and the personal identifying information can sometimes be used as part of an identity theft scam . The consumer does not get the trip that was booked, although his card is charged for it. Travel agent fraud and travel agency fraud online can also involve sending phishing emails claiming to be from a legitimate travel agency, or can involve hacking into legitimate sites or making fake sites that look and sound like legitimate travel agency websites, even borrowing the names of trusted agencies.

Travel agency fraud can also occur in person too. Agents and agencies could provide misleading information and up-charge consumers, or they could set up shop temporarily and defraud customers out of money for trips that never get booked before closing up and moving on.

Getting Help If Accused of Travel Agency Fraud

If you are involved in a fraud scam in any way, from acting as a fake travel agent to setting up a computer website for purposes of defrauding visitors, you can be charged with a fraud offense. In fact, if you conspired with others, you can be charged with not just crimes you actually committed but also with crimes of co-conspirators.

There are serious penalties imposed when you have been accused of travel agency fraud or travel fraud, so knowing how to fight charges or negotiate a favorable deal with prosecutors is key to trying to stay out of prison and avoid a criminal record. Bukh Law Firm, PLLC has extensive experience in providing representation when defendants have been accused of travel fraud. Give is a call now to speak with a NY defense lawyer to learn more.

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Home » Travel » Travel Tips » Six Signs You’re Dealing with a Fake Travel Agency

Six Signs You’re Dealing with a Fake Travel Agency

The International Air Transport Association estimates that the airline and travel industries face a loss of around $860 million USD every year due to scammers.

From building fake websites to blatantly impersonating a travel agent, scammers will use every trick that they can think of to steal your money.

These are not rare occurrences either. The IATA also says that around 90% of all emails sent worldwide are spam, spoof, and phishing attempts. There is no need to be put off by travel agencies, though, just be smart.

Travel Agents: They Are Not Without Their Merit

Why do you need a travel agent?

• Travel agents frequently have connections with leading hotels and airlines. This can help you get fantastic deals on accommodations, tours, and flights.
• Your travel agent is your point of contact should anything go wrong on your trip. They will be able to help in the case of stolen or misplaced luggage, natural disasters, getting into legal trouble, etc.

A travel agent can be an extremely valuable asset, but you want to secure yourself against possible fraud. Read on to learn what to watch out for when booking with a new travel agency.

The Telltale Signs of Scamming Agencies

• If the agency you have chosen doesn’t have a physical office that you can visit, do not even contact them – choose another agency.
• If they have an office, an excellent Facebook page, and a great flyer program but no website, again, walk away.
• If the prices are too good to be true, they probably aren’t true. Avoid “steal deals” at any cost, unless they are from a verified company.

Hidden Signs to Look Out for:

1. weird websites.

Scamming agencies have scamming websites. Professional agencies have professional websites. To know the difference, look for these quality signals:

• Padlock in the top left corner

This shows that the website is secured with an SSL certificate, which helps secure your data (such as credit card information).

• Professional Design

The website of a travel agency is their most high-traffic area. Its design must please, and its language must inform. If either of these features is missing, look elsewhere.

2. Gmail (Generic Email)

Genuine businesses will go to the trouble of establishing custom emails for their employees. It’s inexpensive and looks professional. If the agency you’re considering has a website, but their email is generic, chances are you are dealing with a fake agency.

For instance, if you’re dealing with Cindy at a company called XYZ Travel, and her email address is [email protected] , you’re probably fine. On the other hand, if her email is [email protected] , it may not be a legitimate company.

3. No Membership to Global or National Associations

Your agency should be registered with at least one, but preferably multiple, travel agency associations. Some popular associations are The American Society of Travel Advisors, The United States Travel Association, and The International Airlines Travel Agent Network.

The logic behind this is that these associations have rigorous quality assessments, making it very hard for a scammer to gain membership.

Suppose your agency is a member of any such association. In that case, they will provide you with their membership number, which you can then verify on the particular association’s website. Not finding the agency on the association’s website is a significant red flag.

4. Private Bank Account Registration

If you are given a bank account number for the agency, it is always wise to phone the bank and determine if the bank account is registered to a business or an individual.

If the agency created the account for personal use, do not transfer any funds, no matter how credible the agency has been up to this point.

5. Changing Agents Frequently

If you’ve confirmed your interest in their packages, but the agency keeps bouncing you around from agent to agent, reconsider your options.

Scammers use this tactic so that their victims don’t get too familiar with any particular employee. Legitimate travel agencies will often assign an agent to cater to your specific needs.

6. Documentation

If your travel agent is unwilling to display the certifications of the agency, do not trust them. Similarly, if no documents prove that their business is indeed a business, find an alternative.

Tips To Get the Best Price At Any Travel Agent:

• Be Frank and Firm Regarding Your Budget. It’s your money; you get to choose how it’s spent. A good tactic is to tell the travel agent about 20% less than the number in your head.
• Do Your Own Research. If you have information about your destination beforehand, your travel agent will not hike their prices.
• Get Other Quotes. Make it known that you have consulted with other agents who are offering you a deal, and ask if they offer anything better. This move is likely to elicit a price drop.

How To Choose a New Travel Agent or Agency

• Pay Attention to Advertisements. Travel agencies will always advertise through media such as newspapers, websites, social media, and the radio. Look through these and identify potential candidates.
• Research, Review, and Remove. Thorough background checks are recommended. Go through their websites, social media accounts, and their print media to weed out any suspicious candidates on your list.
• Schedule an Appointment. Make a trip to their local branch, and observe everything.
• If You’re Satisfied, Book a Trip. If all these boxes have been ticked, go ahead.
• Do What You Paid for: Relax!

Other Ways to Save

One of the primary reasons to book your trip through a travel agent is to get a good deal. One way to potentially save some money after your trip begins is by purchasing a travel insurance or travel medical insurance plan. If you encounter an unexpected obstacle during your trip – lost luggage, flight delay, emergency health issues, and more – your insurance can financially compensate you for any covered situation. If your trip doesn’t go as you planned, your insurance can provide valuable protection.

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Planning a trip? Here's how to avoid fake airline ticket scams

Every new season, occasion, holiday, natural disaster, you name it, scammers work hard. Vacation seasons are one of their favorite times to pounce.

Some in-person criminals might spy that you're away and break in.

Take steps to make sure your home isn’t a target.

Most cybercrime targets you as you’re getting your trip scheduled and paid for. Buying a plane ticket for a late summer or fall trip? Arm yourself with tech tips to make your travel easier and cheaper.

While you’re at it, here’s a new scam to watch for: A “travel agent” or travel site selling fake plane tickets. I’ve got the details on how it works and ways to protect yourself from this predatory ploy.

Join over 400,000 people who get tech smarts in their inbox for free.

A nasty trick

Here’s how it works. You search for tickets online or reply to a scam email. Overwhelmed by all the travel sites and apps, you choose what seems like a trustworthy source with killer prices.

You may end up emailing, chatting, or talking to someone who promises they can get you a great rate on a ticket. You hand over your name, phone number and payment details. Using your information, they book what you think is a confirmed seat and say you're good to go.

You, the savvy shopper, go to the airline's website and enter the flight information. You see your seat, pat yourself on the back for saving money and consider your travel booked.

Cybersecurity news: The real reason there are so many hackers? The tools are cheap and easy to buy.

Then comes the surprise

You check in for your flight, and your ticket is nowhere to be found. That's because the scammer reserved a seat instead of actually booking a ticket. At this point, the airline can't do anything for you.

Hopefully, you find this out long before you’re standing at an airport customer service counter, suitcase in hand! Either way, you’re out the money and the airline ticket.

Be smarter than the scammer

How do you protect yourself from this scam and all the other nasty travel tricks out there? For starters, use this bit of wisdom to serve you well in any scenario: If you find a deal too good to be true, it's probably a scam.

◾ Don’t pay until you see a confirmation number or e-ticket number. Anything else could just be a reservation, and that’s not a confirmed ticket.

◾ Book directly from the airline’s website to be extra safe. You may not get the lowest price, but hey, at least you can get frequent flyer points.

◾ If you’re worried about a ticket, talk directly to the airline’s customer service department. Don’t call the travel agency booking site. Make sure the ticket is confirmed , not just reserved.

Still writing checks? There’s a very good reason you should stop.

How to spot fake travel sites

This is far from the only scam in town. Crooks are great at creating fake apps and sites to rip you off. Fortunately, there are signs to watch for that can help to avoid them.

◾ Check official resources: The Better Business Bureau is a great place to start. The agency lists real companies; if you can't find the one you're working with, walk away.

◾ Online reviews and ratings: Read online reviews and ratings on sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google. Keep in mind that extremely positive and negative reviews could be bogus. Watch for a balance of reviews and consistent themes.

◾ Accreditation and licensing: Many legitimate travel agencies are members of recognized industry organizations like the American Society of Travel Advisors or have International Air Transport Association accreditation. Check for credentials on their site.

◾ Transparent pricing: Legitimate sites are clear and upfront about all costs. Beware of sites that have hidden fees or don’t clearly explain what you’re paying for and why.

◾ Secure payment options: Reputable travel sites use secure, well-known payment options. Be wary of sites that only allow bank transfers or money orders. A relatively new red flag is if a company only accepts cryptocurrency as payment. Don’t do it!

Keep your tech-know going

My popular podcast is called “ Kim Komando Today .” It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from all over the country. Search for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, hit the link below for a recent episode.

PODCAST PICK: $30K Uber horror, life-threatening Facebook hack & robocall revenge

Plus, Google is updating what it can collect about you online to enhance its AI capabilities. I chat with a guy who needs a new payment processing solution for his Christian networking group. Coworkers engaging in explicit messaging, ChatGPT officiating a wedding, and tricks to dispose of an old phone.

Check out my podcast “Kim Komando Today” on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

Listen to the podcast here or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search for my last name, “Komando.”

Learn about all the latest technology on the  Kim Komando Show , the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website. 

• Entertainment

Criminal gangs acting as bogus ‘travel agents’ by selling fake ‘packages’ to allow illegal migration

Gangs are acting as criminal ‘travel agents’ by selling ‘packages’ of fake documents to allow illegal migration in to Ireland.

Criminals have been targeting Georgian nationals who wish to claim asylum in Ireland by producing fake driving licences and identification cards from EU countries. These are then posted to asylum seekers to allow them to travel to Ireland.

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Story continues below.

The Irish Dail Mail understands that such packages can sell for anywhere between €8,000 and €12,000 on the black market. Internal Government documents, obtained by the Irish Daily Mail, raised concerns over an ‘increasing number of asylum claims made by Georgian citizens in Ireland in recent years’.

Sources told the Mail: ‘Many of these people are arriving here with fake work permits or visas, some of which could be EU documents or fake Irish work permits.

‘However, often people when they arrive into the country will throw them away or discard them as they fear they will be found out by the authorities, and it’s easier to stay in Ireland and try to claim asylum for longer if your country of origin can’t be detected if you have no travel documents.’

Georgia has been deemed a ‘safe country’ by Ireland since 2018, meaning while its citizens can apply for asylum, they are less likely to be granted it.

Despite this, there were 2,710 claims from the country in 2022, the ‘highest number of applications by nationality’ that year.

Since then, Justice Minister Helen McEntee has closed the net even further, and applicants from safe countries who arrive here now typically receive a first-instance decision in less than three months.

Now, criminal gangs are exploiting this clampdown by the Irish Government, which has seen real applications from Georgia fall dramatically this year, to get them into the country through fake documents.

Documents obtained by the Mail show that the Department of Justice is now working Georgian Embassy on the issue and a number of arrests have been made in relation to selling packages to Georgians.

The documents, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, state: ‘This has included the appointment of a Police Attaché at the Georgian Embassy in Dublin, and the arrest of a number of socalled “travel agents” selling packages for Georgians wishing to travel to Ireland to claim asylum.’

The Georgian Embassy has been engaging with the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment on expanding possibilities for Georgians to work here.

Governments across Europe are able to determine that certain countries are ‘safe’, meaning they do not believe that citizens there are generally subject to persecution.

Gardaí and their counterparts across several EU countries have been mounting an ongoing battle against these so-called travel agents.

A Europol crackdown, in 2021 under what was known as Operation Mombasa, led to the convictions of three Georgians here under human trafficking laws that year.

In one case in June 2021, Judge Martin Nolan said people availing of the service were not ‘downtrodden or vulnerable’ but were people from Georgia who wanted to ‘improve their financial lots’ and ‘escape’ a country they did ‘not want to live in’.

As a result of intelligence gathered by Operation Mombasa and other trafficking probes, officers here are aware of the fraudulent behaviour being employed to smuggle people into Ireland.

Operation Mombasa was established as a result of the Icelandic and Spanish authorities intercepting Georgian nationals within their jurisdiction committing criminal offences.

The investigations found some of these had sourced false documents here.

Sources described how Ireland is a destination for people being smuggled as well as the source of fake documents being sent to others to enable them to work in other countries.

‘With regards to Georgia, we have a growing number of people from that country coming here for asylum. We also have a lot of people here using these false instruments,’ the source said.

‘Ireland is also acting as a hub for the delivery of fake documents to countries in Europe. It is usually being carried out by the same gangs or organised crime groups who are associates of theirs.’

Last November Justice Minister Helen McEntee added Algeria and Botswana to the safe list. She is reviewing the list, with a view to adding more countries.

On Tuesday, she said: ‘That review is under way and I hope to bring it forward soon. Where I can expand it I certainly will, but I don’t have a definitive timeline.’

A spokesman for the Department of Justice said applicants from safe countries now receive a first instance decision in less than three months, a significant reduction from a norm of 22 to 26 months in recent years.

He said, for the year up to January 31, applications from safe countries has reduced by over 50%.

The Georgian Embassy was contacted for comment.

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NV obtains new photos and videos of the elimination of traitorous ex-MP Ilya Kyva near Moscow

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Photos and videos of the elimination of pro-Russian ex-MP Ilya Kyva in a Moscow suburb were obtained by NV from sources in Ukraine’s SBU Security Service on Dec. 11.

This special operation was meticulously planned and successfully executed, the SBU informant confirmed.

Read also: “Surrender for your own safety” advises Ukrainian intelligence to traitors

In one imgae, Kyva's lifeless body can be seen in the snow surrounded by bloodstains. The location where “deserved punishment awaited the traitor” is near the place that Kyva filmed many anti-Ukrainian videos, sources say.

Kyva was a high-priority target, SBU said. His daily routines, movements, and habits were extensively studied in the operation. Despite strong security, the SBU managed to eliminate him just outside Moscow.

“This [Kyva’s elimination] serves as a signal to all traitors and military criminals who have sided with the enemy. Remember: Russia will not protect you. Death is the only prospect awaiting enemies of Ukraine,” SBU Chief Vasyl Malyuk said.

Ukraine’s SBU eliminated Kyva in a special operation in Moscow Oblast on Dec. 6, said NV sources in the intelligence service.

Kyva's “bloodied body”, discovered with a shot through the head, was found in the park of an elite club hotel in the Moscow region on Dec.6, Russian propaganda Telegram channels reported.

Read also: Former Ukrainian MP and traitor Illia Kyva found dead in Moscow Oblast – NV sources

Kyva was shot with an unidentified firearm and died from the injuries on the scene, the Russian Investigative Committee claimed.

Kyva had fled to Spain ahead of Russia’s full-scale invasion. He then appeared in Russian propaganda broadcasts in Moscow, actively spreading lies about Ukraine. Kyva also sought “political asylum” and citizenship from the enemy aggressor.

The Ukrainian parliament stripped Kyva of his MP status in March 2022, charging him with treason. He was additionally charged with publicly calling for a violent change in the constitutional order and propaganda on behalf of the aggressor state in Aug. 2023.

We’re bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron !

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine

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The trains and stations of the Moscow Metro

2 Comments · Posted by Alex Smirnov in Cities , Travel , Video

The Moscow Metro is the third most intensive subway system in the world after Tokyo and Seoul subways. The first line was opened on May 15, 1935. Since 1955, the metro has the name of V.I. Lenin.

The system consists of 12 lines with a total length of 305.7 km. Forty four stations are recognized cultural heritage. The largest passenger traffic is in rush hours from 8:00 to 9:00 and from 18:00 to 19:00.

Cellular communication is available on most of the stations of the Moscow Metro. In March 2012, a free Wi-Fi appeared in the Circle Line train. The Moscow Metro is open to passengers from 5:20 to 01:00. The average interval between trains is 2.5 minutes.

The fare is paid by using contactless tickets and contactless smart cards, the passes to the stations are controlled by automatic turnstiles. Ticket offices and ticket vending machines can be found in station vestibules.

Tags:  Moscow city

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The bridge over Zolotoy Rog Bay in Vladivostok

The views of St. Petersburg from the TV tower >>

Tomás · August 27, 2012 at 11:34 pm

The Moscow metro stations are the best That I know, cars do not.

Alberto Calvo · September 25, 2016 at 8:57 pm

Great videos! Moscow Metro is just spectacular. I actually visited Moscow myself quite recently and wrote a post about my top 7 stations, please check it out and let me know what you think! :)

http://www.arwtravels.com/blog/moscow-metro-top-7-stations-you-cant-miss

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