Scammers warning to couples booking romantic breaks for Valentine's Day
Couples booking romantic Valentine's Day getaways have been warned to be on guard for scammers.
Fraudsters are reportedly creating fake travel agency websites that offer discounted holiday packages as well as advertising luxury resorts for a fraction of the price.
When the victims then book and make payment, they realise the tickets or bookings don’t exist. The scammers have also been known to cancel the trips last-minute and refuse to issue refunds.
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Richard D, online safety expert at VPN Pro, has warned: "Always research the travel agency before booking. Check reviews on third-party platforms and make sure the company has a verified history.
"Stick to reputable travel booking sites or work with trusted travel agents to avoid losing your money and vacation plans."
Red flags to look out for when booking a romantic trip:
Deals that are significantly cheaper than those on well-known travel websites.
No physical address or verifiable contact details for the travel agency.
Requests for payment via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrencies.
Explaining how scammers target couples over Valentine's Day, Richard added: "Valentine’s Day is unique because it allows scammers to combine heightened emotions with romantic purchases, creating a perfect storm for scams.
"They know that people are more trusting and emotionally invested during this time, which makes their schemes harder to detect."
Another common scam is fake websites advertising discounted flowers, chocolates, or gifts. After paying, the items are never delivered, or the scammers collect personal and payment information for fraudulent use.
Richard advised: "Stick to well-known retailers with verified reviews and use secure payment methods like credit cards, which offer better fraud protection."
Another common scam at this time of the year is websites advertising high-end jewellery at unbeatable discounts but then delivering counterfeit items (or nothing at all) after payment.
To avoid this, Richard suggests only purchasing jewellery from reputable retailers with a strong online presence and verified customer reviews.
Common Valentine's Day scams:
Fake flower and gift delivery schemes - Fake websites advertising discounted flowers, chocolates, or gifts.
Fake dating profiles - These profiles are used to gain the trust of victims, manipulate emotions, and sometimes extract sensitive information or money.
Travel scams - Fake travel agency websites offering discounted travel.
Phishing scams - Fraudsters disguise themselves as trusted companies (sometimes even your favourite dating site) to steal personal information.
Cryptocurrency investment scams - Scammers pose as romantic interests, introducing ‘exciting’ cryptocurrency courses or investments.
Fake jewellery offers - Fraudsters advertise high-end jewellery at unbeatable discounts, delivering counterfeit items (or nothing at all) after payment.
E-Gift card scams - Emails or social media posts claim you’ve received a Valentine’s Day gift card but then direct you to a fake site to ‘redeem’ it by providing your personal and financial details.
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