Be careful when using online travel services

According to information from the National Competition Commission (Ministry of Industry and Trade), along with the strong development of online tourism services, there have been many acts of taking advantage of social networks and e-commerce websites to defraud consumers. This situation has been increasing alarmingly over the past time.

Tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. (Illustration photo: THANH DAT)

It is not difficult to realize that there are more and more tricks of impersonating reputable businesses, offering "shocking incentives" to appropriate deposits. Some subjects also advertise falsely or hide unfavorable service fees, causing customers not only to lose money but also to have their rights and travel experiences seriously affected.

Receiving information from the National Competition Commission, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration recently said that in recent times, a series of cases have been discovered by the authorities. The subjects often create fake websites and fanpages, using images and logos of real hotels and travel companies to deceive customers.

Some cases also run ads on platforms such as Facebook, Google... to create trust for tourists. When customers transfer money to book tours or rooms, these pages immediately "disappear" making it impossible for buyers to contact them.

In addition, the situation of editing and inflating service images, offering unusually low prices, and then collecting a series of additional fees also puts consumers in a passive position. The risk of personal information being leaked, the risks in online payments, and the difficulty in requesting to cancel or change services further increase the disadvantages for customers.

According to the Department of Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention (A05, Ministry of Public Security ), in the first months of 2025 alone, nearly 1,500 online fraud cases were recorded with total losses of more than VND 1,660 billion, many of which were related to tourism services. Typical cases include fake hotel and travel agency fanpages to appropriate hundreds of millions of VND from many victims.

Faced with this situation, the National Competition Commission recommends that consumers absolutely do not trust tours, resort combos, or airline tickets with unusually low prices. All transactions must be verified through official channels such as websites, applications, or public phone numbers of businesses. People are advised not to transfer money to personal accounts, and must keep documents and invoices as a basis for complaints. At the same time, promptly report to the authorities if any unusual signs are detected.

Legally, the Law on Consumer Protection 2023 and the Law on Tourism 2017 both clearly stipulate the rights of customers to be provided with honest information, to be protected, to complain, and to request compensation when their rights are violated. Consumers can send a complaint to the Consumer Protection Association, the Department of Industry and Trade of localities or directly through the Online Public Service Portal for resolution.

On the other hand, businesses need to be transparent with information, publicize their business licenses, addresses, official contact channels, and regularly warn customers about fake sites. Investing in security systems, building complaint handling mechanisms, and prioritizing customer interests will help businesses improve their reputation and contribute to creating a healthy online tourism business environment.

If people have any questions or want to make a complaint, they can contact the Consumer Advice and Support Hotline 18006838 (free nationwide) or visit the website http://www.bvntd.gov.vn/khieu-nai for guidance and support.

CHIEU ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/can-trong-khi-su-dung-dich-vu-du-lich-truc-tuyen-post909200.html