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When it comes to booking vacations, especially online, there are always scam artists just waiting to take advantage of unaware travelers.
One of the biggest scams that many travelers fall for because the scam artists are so good at it is buying vacation packages from fake travel agents or agencies.
This has happened to travelers visiting Cancun in the past, and now Cancun tourists are being warned to watch out for these scams as high season begins, and so does the frequency of scams.
The Vacation Package Scam
The vacation package scam involves fake companies finding ways to get travelers to purchase vacation packages that don’t really exist.
They entice thrifty vacation planners with what looks like amazing deals.
Travelers looking to save money are then asked to send the “vacation package” seller money, either by providing a credit card or through another type of money transfer, and then the buyer never hears from them again.
@cyber_warrior76 #greenscreen #cancun #scam #fraud #vacation ♬ original sound – Cyber_Warrior
Why It Works
One of the reasons this scam works so well is because the scammers have gotten good at portraying real travel agencies, hotels, and other booking sites.
In many cases, they clone authentic sites, and travelers can hardly tell the difference.
Facebook is also commonly used by scam artists to sell their fake travel packages.
@cheaptravelbuddy Common Scams in Cancun? #travel #budgettravel #cheaptravel #travelhacks #traveltips #traveltipsandtricks #traveldiaries #travelholic #wanderlust #nomad #nomadlife #nomadlifestyle #digitalnomad #wheretonext #traveladdict #travelguide#cancun #cancunmexico #cancun🌴 #cancún #cancùn #cancunbeach #cancunwedding #islamujeres #mujeres #tulum #quintanaroo #visitcancun#visitmexico #mexicotravel ♬ original sound – Cheap Travel Buddy
How To Tell If It’s Too Good To Be True
The first clue as to whether or not a “deal” is too good to be true is how realistic the pricing sounds.
This should be especially easy to spot for frequent travelers that are used to vacation destination pricing and even more so for those making a repeat visit to a specific destination.
Another way to spot this type of scam is if the “seller” keeps lowering the price to try to convince you to send money because this simply isn’t how vacation packages are sold by real travel agencies.
@destifyweddings Dear to-be newlyweds, Cancun’s calling your name 🗣️ Schedule a call today and reserve your luxury wedding package via the link in our bio! #destify #destinationwedding #weddingplanning #cancunwedding #mexicowedding ♬ Funk Hip Hop Music(814197) – Pavel
How Often It Happens
According to a recent report, these types of scams happen often and have been growing more and more common over the last few years.
Particularly, online scams are growing more frequent because advances in technology make it easier for scam artists to pull off these kinds of scams.
According to the Mexican Association of Travel Agencies, these scams increased from one every day in 2013 to 250 per hour in 2019 and to 450 per hour last year.
@destinyezurs Let your friends know if they plan on going to Mexico ….#scam #mexico #cancun ♬ Sunroof – Nicky Youre & dazy
Why Scams Are More Common During High Season
There are three main reasons that scams are more likely to increase during the holiday season.
One, the wintertime is one of the busiest seasons in Los Cabos, particularly among American and Canadian travelers.
The second reason is that people get more desperate around the holidays and that includes scam artists.
Finally, many travelers purchase vacation packages as gifts for the holidays, so more people are shopping for vacation packages.
How To Avoid Vacation Package Scams
The best way to avoid vacation package scams is to do your research before making any purchases.
Use the same technology that scam artists use to fight against them.
Read reviews on a travel agency, look up all of the company details, and communicate by phone before sending someone your hard-earned dream vacation money.
Best Ways To Book Your Cancun Vacation
Booking through well-known brick-and-mortar travel agencies, OTAs, and hotel company websites are the best ways to book your Cancun vacation.
If you compare all three you might be able to find some savings that way.
And you can be confident that you’ll be purchasing your Cancun vacation safely.
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