Even when choosing Facebook pages with the most followers to book hotel rooms, people still get scammed.

SKĐS - During peak tourist season, many fake hotel and resort fanpages/websites appear, using the tactic of "unusually low prices" to trick users into transferring deposit money, then continuing to use various schemes to get the "victims" to send more money multiple times.

Scams flourish during the tourist season.

As the 2026 summer travel season approaches, the demand for sightseeing and relaxation across the country is increasing sharply. However, along with the booming tourism market, online scams involving tours, accommodations, airline tickets, and visa services are also becoming more complex, with increasingly sophisticated methods, causing many people to lose money and even have their personal information stolen.

Ms. Hoang Thanh Tam (Vinh Yen, Phu Tho ) recently shared with the Health and Life Newspaper her story of being scammed when booking a hotel room in Quan Lan (Quang Ninh). She recounted that her family wanted to go on a summer vacation to Minh Chau Island (Quan Lan, Quang Ninh), so she searched online. After reading about room prices on several websites, she decided to book a room on a page with over 100,000 followers and a verified blue checkmark.

Numerous fake hotel and resort websites have been created to scam customers.

"I found the staff here very friendly, helpful, and especially the prices were a little cheaper than other places. After inquiring about room rates from June 25th to June 28th, I agreed to pay a deposit of 11 million VND for 3 rooms. The remaining amount would be paid directly upon check-in. Immediately after I transferred the money, this person messaged me saying I had transferred the money incorrectly and asked me to transfer it again with the correct format. As for the mistakenly transferred amount, I would receive cash upon check-in. Realizing it was a scam, I immediately messaged them to ask for more information about the hotel, but they didn't have it. When I said I would report it to the police, they blocked all communication," Ms. Hoang Thanh Tam shared.

Ms. Tam's case is not unique. Mr. Hoang Tan Phong ( Hanoi ) also recently regretted transferring over 30 million VND to a scammer who booked airline tickets. The scammer advertised on Facebook that they had cheap tickets available during peak season, and Mr. Phong readily booked tickets for his whole family to Da Nang. However, as soon as the money was transferred, the scammer blocked all communication.

The scam involving renting "virtual" homestays and villas isn't limited to tours and hotels; it's also flourishing in popular tourist destinations like Da Lat, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, and Phu Quoc. These scammers copy images of luxurious villas and beautiful homestays from the internet and post them with very low rental prices to attract customers.

To gain trust, the perpetrators even forged business licenses, booking confirmation invoices, and receipts with red stamps, sending them to customers. However, upon arrival, tourists were shocked to discover that the rented address did not exist or was just an ordinary house, with no accommodation facilities as advertised.

In addition, scams related to overseas tourist visa services are on the rise. Scammers advertise services with "100% guaranteed approval," "super-fast processing," and "no financial proof required," exploiting people's reluctance to go through complicated procedures. After receiving tens of millions of dong and important personal documents such as passports and national identity cards, the scammers quickly cut off all contact.

Cybersecurity expert Ngo Minh Hieu, Director of the Anti-Fraud Project (Chongluadao.vn), noted that during peak tourist season, many fake hotel and resort fanpages/websites appear, using the tactic of "unusually low prices" to trick users into transferring deposit money. After the victim transfers the money, the scammer may report "incorrect information," "system not yet recorded," and then request a second transfer. This is not a new tactic, but victims still fall for it due to their complacency and failure to thoroughly investigate before transferring deposit money.

According to the Hanoi City Police, the perpetrators often create fake fan pages with interfaces similar to the websites and fan pages of reputable resorts, hotels, and homestays to deceive tourists. These fan pages usually have tens of thousands of followers, use hotline phone numbers for consultations, even have Facebook verification badges, and run advertisements to build trust. In addition, the perpetrators also buy "fake" comments, create positive reviews about accommodation services to increase credibility, and launch many promotional programs with unusually attractive prices.

After customers contacted the scammers to book a room and transferred a deposit, the scammers continued to give excuses such as incorrect transaction details, the system not recording the transaction, or the money being "pending," thereby requesting additional money for verification or to refund the previous amount. Trusting them, many people transferred large sums of money multiple times before being blocked and losing all their money.

How to avoid scams during peak tourist season

According to Mr. Ngo Minh Hieu, for travel booking websites, users need to carefully check the domain name. Websites with unusual extensions such as .xyz, .cc, .tk, or domain names that resemble large brands but differ by a few characters, all pose a potential risk of fraud. For Fanpages with beautiful, glamorous images, users should carefully check the "Page Transparency" section on Facebook to find out the page creation date and name change history. Scammers may buy verified Fanpages and change the name to carry out fraudulent activities.

Most importantly, people need to be especially wary of travel packages priced 30% or more below market value. This is often the first sign of a high-risk transaction. In the tourism industry and many other consumer sectors, excessively low prices compared to the general market are a tactic that preys on the "desire for bargains" and turns customers into victims. "The more attractive the offer, the more carefully you need to check it."

Experts also recommend that people prioritize booking services on reputable platforms with clear customer protection policies; and avoid transferring money to personal accounts of unknown origin. In particular, they advise against providing images of your citizen identification card, bank account information, OTP codes, or other important personal data to strangers online.

In case of suspected fraud or detection of unusual activity, citizens should promptly retain all message content, transaction images, and transfer receipts, and report it to the nearest police station for assistance in handling the matter according to the law.

To prevent fraud, the Cyber ​​Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department advises people to carefully check fanpage information, be wary of advertisements offering unusually cheap room rates compared to the market, and compare prices across multiple platforms before making a booking.

People should also prioritize booking through reputable platforms and check reviews from previous guests on sites like TripAdvisor or Google Reviews to verify information.

In addition, the police recommend that people proactively contact the hotel directly via hotline or email on the official website to verify information before making payments. Absolutely do not follow requests to transfer money multiple times under the pretext of incorrect syntax, system errors, or pending payments.

The summer travel season is a time when demand for vacations increases, but it is also a "business season" for high-tech scammers. Increased vigilance, thorough verification of information, and choosing reputable service providers are crucial solutions to help people protect their assets and have safe and fulfilling trips.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/chon-facebook-nhieu-luot-nguoi-theo-doi-nhat-de-dat-phong-khach-san-van-bi-lua-169260603150926845.htm