Authorities Issue New Alert Over Fake Hotel Websites In Cancun

Share The Article

You’ve found it: the deal of a lifetime. A stunning, 5-star Cancun resort is offering a week-long stay for a price that seems too good to be true. The website looks perfect—it has the hotel’s official logo, beautiful photos, and a professional booking portal. You enter your details, make the payment, and get a confirmation email. It’s only when you arrive at the front desk in Cancun, luggage in tow, that you discover the horrifying truth: the reservation doesn’t exist, and the website was a sophisticated fake.

This traveler’s nightmare is becoming increasingly common, and now, the Quintana Roo Tourism Secretariat (Sedetur) has issued an official alert for the summer 2025 season about a surge in these fraudulent websites. With up to 20 fake sites being detected each month, it’s a serious problem. Here at The Cancun Sun, we want to ensure your dream vacation becomes a reality, which is why this alert is so critical. Here’s the insider’s guide to spotting these scams and protecting your trip.

How The Sophisticated Scam Works

Forget the poorly designed, typo-ridden websites of the past. Modern travel scams are incredibly sophisticated. Fraudsters create “clone” sites that are nearly identical copies of the real websites for famous hotels, legitimate local travel agencies, and even popular tour operators. They use the official logos, the same photos, and a web address that looks deceptively similar to the real one.

These fake sites are often promoted through social media ads or pop-ups, luring victims in with deals that are just a little too good. Once you’re on their page, it can be incredibly difficult to tell you’re not in the right place.

The Savvy Traveler’s Checklist: 5 Ways To Spot a Fake Website

According to state authorities like the Cyber Police, who are actively working to take these pages down, a few seconds of careful verification can save you from losing thousands. Before you enter any payment information, run through this checklist.

1. Scrutinize The URL

This is the #1 giveaway. Scammers will create addresses that look almost identical. For example, the real site might be riu.com, but a fake site could be Hotel-Riu-Cancun-Deals.com or Riu-Official.net. Look for extra dashes, slight misspellings, or unusual endings like .net or .org for a commercial hotel.

2. Look for The Padlock (HTTPS)

Check the address bar in your browser. A legitimate, secure website will always start with https:// and display a small padlock icon. While some scam sites can get this security certificate, the absence of it is a massive, non-negotiable red flag. If there’s no padlock, do not proceed.

3. Search for Independent Contact Info & Reviews

Does the site list a physical address and a working phone number? A fake site might have vague contact details or none at all. The pro move is to open a new tab and search for the hotel’s name on Google Maps or TripAdvisor. Do the phone number and address match? Does the company have a long history of independent reviews? A real hotel will have a huge digital footprint; a fake one will not.

4. If The Deal Is Unbelievable, It’s A Lie

A 5-star, all-inclusive resort in the Cancun Hotel Zone will never be 70% off during the peak summer season. Scammers prey on the excitement of finding an impossible deal. Remember the golden rule of travel booking: if it seems too good to be true, it is.

5. Beware The Payment Method

This is the final, crucial test. While the most obvious scams will avoid credit cards entirely, the most sophisticated fake websites can have convincing credit card portals. The ultimate red flag, however, is when they try to steer you away from using it.

A scammer’s goal is to get your money in a way that you can never get back. They may list credit card payments, but then offer a “special discount” if you pay via a direct, irreversible method like a wire transfer, Zelle, or a direct bank deposit. They might even claim their credit card system is “down for maintenance.”

This is the non-negotiable rule: If a company ever pressures you to pay for a vacation package via a direct bank transfer, it is a scam 100% of the time. Legitimate companies prefer credit card payments because they protect both you and them. Always pay for travel with a credit card; it is your only real protection against fraud.

Cancun is an incredibly welcoming destination, but its popularity makes it a prime target for online fraud. By taking a few extra minutes to be a savvy, skeptical booker, you can ensure your dream trip is protected. Safe travels!