Fake fanpages are rampant during the tourist season: Don't trust verified badges or follower counts.

(According to the Industry and Trade Newspaper) Fake Fanpages are offering unusually low prices to scam tourists during peak season. Experts warn against being deceived by verified badges and follower counts.

As the peak tourist season approaches, many fake fan pages impersonating hotels and travel companies are launching scams under the guise of promotions and low prices. Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, a hotel industry expert and General Director of Viet Orient Hotel Management and Consulting Company (VOH), believes that most of these fan pages advertising unusually attractive offers are likely fake. To help consumers avoid falling into these traps, Mr. Quang shared ways to identify and prevent scams, ensuring tourists don't lose money and can enjoy a fulfilling vacation.

Get information from official websites instead of fan pages.

- During peak tourist season, the number of fake fan pages and scams targeting customers tends to increase. Could you share some common signs to identify these fake fan pages?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang: The current situation of fake fanpages is becoming increasingly sophisticated. Some fake pages are created even before the official fanpages, have high follower counts, meticulously produced content and images, and even have "blue checkmarks." This makes it difficult for many people, including those in the industry, to distinguish between real and fake pages at a glance.

I always advise clients not to rely on follower count or verification badges to determine trustworthiness. Facebook now offers a "Page Transparency" tool, where users can view the page's name change history, creation date, and administrator's geographic location. If a hotel is located in Vietnam but the administrator is in Cambodia or abroad, it's highly likely to be a fake page.

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In an era where room rates are publicly available on official websites and reputable online booking platforms like Booking, Agoda, and Traveloka, if a fan page offers unusually low prices compared to the market, especially during peak season, it could very well be a trap.

- With the desire to find cheap tours, many tourists easily fall prey to fake websites. So, in your opinion, what are some common "tricks" used by scammers on social media?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang: It's perfectly understandable that tourists want to save money and hunt for cheap tours, but it's undeniable that this very fact becomes a "weakness" that unscrupulous individuals exploit.

The most common scam involves advertising tour packages or room combos at extremely attractive prices, sometimes 30-50% lower than market rates, accompanied by enticing offers such as "limited offer," or "receive extra discounts when paying 100% upfront."

Scammers often target holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and peak summer travel seasons, when customers are easily swayed by the fear of rooms being unavailable, leading them to rush into payments without careful verification.

Furthermore, scammers are now using more sophisticated methods, such as displaying "system error" messages and requesting re-transfers, or sending fake links containing malware to gain access to personal devices and banking applications, ultimately draining accounts. This is extremely dangerous and can happen to anyone, even experienced travelers.

- How can people verify whether a travel fan page is reputable, licensed, and operating legally, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang: Actually, verifying the credibility of a fan page isn't too difficult if users take a little time to check the page's transparency. In addition, a very simple way is to search on Google Maps or the official website of the hotel or travel company, then compare the phone number, email, and fan page link. If the information on the fan page completely matches the official website or on Google Maps, you can be somewhat reassured.

I also often advise my friends and customers to call the hotel's hotline directly, which is listed on the official website or Google Maps, to verify booking information, promotional policies, etc. It only takes a few minutes on the phone, but it will help us avoid many unfortunate risks.

Businesses need to proactively protect their brands.

- How do you assess the role of authorities and tourism businesses in preventing and warning against online scams?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang: This is a very troubling and somewhat complex issue, because social media platforms are headquartered abroad, while online fraudsters no longer operate individually but are organized, large-scale, and operate across borders, making it very difficult to manage and handle violations.

However, that doesn't mean we're helpless. The responsibility of authorities and tourism businesses is to continuously warn people about new forms of online fraud so that they are more vigilant when conducting transactions. Simultaneously, businesses need to raise awareness in protecting their brands, proactively register for protection with the Intellectual Property Office, and monitor and report any impersonation immediately upon detection.

For example, at Glenda Tower Moc Chau Hotel – a hotel we manage – thanks to trademark protection procedures, we have a solid legal basis to continuously report and request the removal of fake fan pages on social media platforms. This is not only a way to protect the hotel's reputation but also a responsibility to our customers, ensuring they do not become victims of online fraud.

- What should tourists be aware of when booking tours, accommodations, and airline tickets through online platforms to avoid falling victim to scams during peak travel season, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang: The first and most important thing to note is that tourists shouldn't be fooled by excessively low prices. In the tourism industry, prices usually have a general range and are widely publicized. If you see an offer that seems too good to be true, it's usually not genuine.

Secondly, prioritize booking rooms and tours through reputable platforms, such as the official website of the hotel or travel company, or through large OTA sites. If booking through social media, be sure to carefully check the contact information, call to confirm, and only pay after confirming that it is the official fan page.

The peak tourist season is a busy time, and everyone is prone to impatience, but it's also the time when calmness is most needed to objectively assess information and avoid sophisticated online scams.

- Besides fan pages, what other forms of online fraud are on the rise in the tourism sector, sir?

Mr. Nguyen Van Quang: Besides fake fan pages, many new and more sophisticated forms of fraud are emerging. For example, the creation of "ghost" resorts that don't actually exist.

Fraudsters take photos of a real resort abroad and create a fan page promoting it as a new destination in Vietnam with incredibly attractive prices. Many people have trusted them and transferred deposits without realizing they were being scammed.

Recently, there's also a trend of impersonating websites of large travel companies to recruit collaborators for "travel reviews for money." Participants are asked to deposit a small amount of money to complete tasks, initially receiving quick rewards to build trust, but then being lured into depositing larger sums, ultimately losing tens or even hundreds of millions of dong.

The most dangerous aspect is not only the financial loss, but also the loss of trust in legitimate travel businesses. Therefore, community warnings need to be issued regularly, not only by authorities or businesses but also by users themselves. When transacting online, especially with travel services, always verify information and absolutely do not rush to transfer money just because you see a "good deal".

Thank you very much!