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Vacations are meant to be a way to relax and have fun, and for most of us that’s how it turns out, but for those who are scammed out of their vacation and money, it’s anything but a good time.
There have been several stories in recent history of travelers booking a Cancun vacation and experiencing this.
These incidents, including one that just happened recently, are why Cancun tourists are being urged to watch out for this growing vacation scam.
The Vacation Scam
This vacation scam that is becoming more common essentially involves booking a vacation that doesn’t really exist.
The “scam artist” typically acts like a travel agent and uses elaborate techniques to make the individual purchasing the “vacation” believe that they are legitimate.
They will request money, and upon receiving it will never be heard from again.
@cyber_warrior76 #greenscreen #cancun #scam #fraud #vacation ♬ original sound – Cyber_Warrior
The Most Recent Incident Reported
In this most recent case, a family thought they were booking an epic Cancun vacation to celebrate an important anniversary.
For the complete vacation package, the family spent a small fortune, only to arrive to depart for their dream vacation and find that they didn’t even have flights scheduled.
After repeated attempts, the family still was never able to contact the person they bought the supposed vacation from.
@peaceeofmind_ Yall we were definitely a victim of Airbnb Catfish in Mexico 🇲🇽🫠 #girlstrip #airbnbexperience #cancun ♬ original sound – ESOSA||CONTENT CREATOR
Past Incidents Of Travelers Being Scammed
Scams are not uncommon in any vacation destination, and Cancun is not immune to them either.
Some of the scams are small, and you might only lose out on a little money, while others are more extravagant, like this vacation scam that can lead to losing a significant amount of money.
Another traveler dealt with a similar situation back in August when they were scammed out of over $3,500 when they thought they booked a Cancun vacation, only to find out it was all a scam.
@zaaruto ALSO GOT SCAMMED OUT OF $700 🤪 #xyzabc #fyp #Cancun #Mexico #vacation ♬ original sound – ESOSA||CONTENT CREATOR
How To Avoid Being Scammed
While sometimes it might be difficult to tell if a travel agent is legitimate, the main thing to remember is that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Researching prices for various aspects of your vacation on different platforms or contacting multiple agents will give you a good idea of what your Cancun vacation should really cost.
If you have someone offering it for a suspiciously lower price, that’s the first sign that it’s a scam.
Research is key to avoiding being scammed.
What To Do If You Are Scammed
It’s very unlikely that if you get scammed out of your money for a vacation, you’ll get it back.
Even if it may feel a bit embarrassing though, and even if you think the scammer won’t be located, it’s important to report these incidents.
This is the only way for authorities to even try to address the problem.
Other Scams For Cancun Tourists To Watch Out For
Vacation scams are not the only scams to watch out for when traveling to Cancun or any other vacation destination.
Many of the other scams to watch out for are difficult to detect.
These include tour scams, which involve purchasing fake tours, ATM scams in which a stranger offers help at the ATM and swaps your card for another one, and scams involving buying fake items, like jewelry, for example.
@destinyezurs Let your friends know if they plan on going to Mexico ….#scam #mexico #cancun ♬ Sunroof – Nicky Youre & dazy
Safety Tips For Visiting Cancun
When visiting Cancun or any other vacation destination, there are always criminals trying to scam tourists out of their money.
This is why it’s important to refrain from buying things from “salespeople” on the street, to always be aware of your surroundings, to not travel to unknown areas, and to be careful about whom you hand your hard-earned money over to.
If you follow these tips, you’re much less likely to get scammed before, during, or after your Cancun vacation.
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