In light of the escalating incidents of customers falling prey to online travel scams, airasia MOVE (formerly airasia Superapp) underscores the importance of exercising caution when engaging in flight and hotel transactions online, particularly with suspicious online travel agents.
Data from the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group reveals a staggering 16-fold increase in travel-related online scams over a span of two years, emphasizing the pressing need for vigilance in online travel bookings.
Source: Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group
The recorded cases of travel-related scams have surged from 51 in 2021 to a staggering 842 in 2023, with nearly half of the victims losing their money in pursuit of discounted flights and accommodations. According to the records of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, a substantial amount of PHP 13.2 million was lost in 2023 alone to these deceptive online schemes.
The PNP categorizes travel scams into two groups. The first is “fakebooking,” where scammers pilfer a traveler’s personal information. The second classification pertains to those who fall victim to scammers or illegitimate online travel agents. In numerous instances, victims were duped into sending a down payment or full payment to avail of a counterfeit discount, only to realize later that they had been scammed.
Lt. Col. Jay Guillermo, spokesperson for PNP-ACG, offers advice to the public and travelers, emphasizing the importance of using legitimate sites, whether pages or applications, to ensure secure transactions. He highlights the ability to monitor transactions done on legitimate platforms, providing an added layer of security.
Rowena Rivera, Head of Travel – Philippines at airasia MOVE (formerly airasia Superapp), underscores the need for caution in the face of the growing prevalence of online travel bookings and the increasing sophistication of fraudsters. She urges travelers to exclusively use trustworthy booking apps like airasia Superapp, cautioning against unverified groups or pages offering discounts. Rivera emphasizes that airasia Superapp adheres to the highest standards in data handling, safety, and security, employing data encryption to protect user information. The platform also ensures transparent booking confirmations, transaction details, and monthly discounts for users to save on their flight and hotel bookings.
Here are some tips on how to avoid travel scams:
- Do your research. Read reviews and get recommendations before you book anything. Do not provide any identification document, personal information, financial details and payment until you are sure that you are dealing with a legitimate platform, agency or seller.
- Be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. If a price is significantly lower than published rates, then there is a high chance that it is a scam. Looking for a discount? Check the airasia Superapp for weekly and monthly deals.
- Beware of red flags. Check for grammatical errors, typographical mistakes or awkward phrasing in posts or messages.
- Book directly through a downloadable travel app: The safest way to avoid scams is to always book your flights and accommodations directly through the airasia Superapp platform. The app is available on iOS and Android phones. This way, you can be sure you’re dealing with a legitimate source and your personal information is protected. Avoid booking through unknown or unlicensed companies and social media groups.
To ensure you are accessing the correct platform, visit the App Store (for iOS or Apple users), Google Play (for Android users), or AppGallery (for Huawei users). Search for “airasia Superapp” and click the download button when it appears among your top search results.
Protect yourself from scammers and stay informed about the latest promotions and discounts by following @airasiasuperapp.ph on Instagram.
