Online Travel Booking Scams: Follow these tips to save your hard-earned cash

According to McAfee Corp’s ‘Safer Holidays’ travel report, around 51% of Indians have fallen victim to online scams while trying to save money by booking a trip. It is safe to book tickets on trusted websites, but lucrative discounts and offers often lead people to fake websites. Smartly planning a trip with simple precautions while browsing online can save you from such frauds and scams.

According to McAfee Corp’s ‘Safer Holidays’ travel report, around 51% of Indians have fallen victim to online scams while trying to save money by booking a trip. It is safe to book tickets on trusted websites, but lucrative discounts and offers often lead people to fake websites. Smartly planning a trip with simple precautions while browsing online can save you from such frauds and scams.

Follow these tips to save yourself from online booking scams

Follow these tips to save yourself from online booking scams

Think before you pay

Once you have chosen the desired room based on your travel dates, think once before selecting the payment option. Check all the company’s refund policies. Also speak to the customer service number provided on the website to be sure of your reservations. It is also important to find out whether you searched for the website yourself or got there by clicking on a random link. If it is the second case, you have to be careful because it could be a phishing attempt.

Think before you pay

Once you have chosen the desired room based on your travel dates, think once before selecting the payment option. Check all the company’s refund policies. Also speak to the customer service number provided on the website to be sure of your reservations. It is also important to find out whether you searched for the website yourself or got there by clicking on a random link. If it is the second case, you have to be careful because it could be a phishing attempt.

Use VPNs

Always use a Virtual Private Network, while making reservations or when accessing the public Wi-Fi connection with your device. VPN helps people change the digital location of their device to another address to prevent hacking.

Use VPNs

Always use a Virtual Private Network, while making reservations or when accessing the public Wi-Fi connection with your device. VPN helps people change the digital location of their device to another address to prevent hacking.

Public WiFi

Avoid using public WiFi as much as possible. Even though they are free, they also carry the risk of hacking and virus attacks on connected devices. It also makes connected devices prone to information leaks.

Public WiFi

Avoid using public WiFi as much as possible. Even though they are free, they also carry the risk of hacking and virus attacks on connected devices. It also makes connected devices prone to information leaks.

Do a reality check

Before I book a hotel, do you share your research on that hotel, rental property or hostel? Check its existence on other hotel booking sites, try to get its contact number, talk to the owner and make sure of its authenticity. It is recommended to choose the “Book now pay later” option.

Do a reality check

Before I book a hotel, do you share your research on that hotel, rental property or hostel? Check its existence on other hotel booking sites, try to get its contact number, talk to the owner and make sure of its authenticity. It is recommended to choose the “Book now pay later” option.

Virus protection plan

Spend some extra money and buy an antivirus protection plan for your device to ensure extra protection in the event of virus attacks and phishing attacks.

Virus protection plan

Spend some extra money and buy an antivirus protection plan for your device to ensure extra protection in the event of virus attacks and phishing attacks.

Too good to be true

If you are visiting a new website, which you have never heard of before, for travel and hotel reservations, be sure to check out its refund policy. If all things, including hotel booking options, pricing, and discounts, seem appealing, take a step back and think about whether or not there are enough reviews to verify its authenticity. If you can’t find enough reviews, leave the website and make a reservation somewhere else.

Too good to be true

If you are visiting a new website, which you have never heard of before, for travel and hotel reservations, be sure to check out its refund policy. If all things, including hotel booking options, pricing, and discounts, seem appealing, take a step back and think about whether or not there are enough reviews to verify its authenticity. If you can’t find enough reviews, leave the website and make a reservation somewhere else.