December is a time when South Africans embark on well-deserved summer holidays. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when travellers are most susceptible to scams.
Indeed, fraudsters and cybercriminals tend to target South Africans during the summer peak season, which coincides with the festive period.
Combined with the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence (AI), scammers are finding various sophisticated ways to dupe their victims out of their hard-earned money, as well as out of a real and proper vacation.
SHARP INCREASE IN AIRLINE BOOKING SCAMS
As you plan your upcoming summer getaways, you may come across airline-related advertisements on social media, ones that are supposedly posted by travel agents and look too good to be true.
According to Discovery Bank, these ads are the work of fraudsters looking to gain access to your mobile device.
Per Business Tech:
These scams usually take the form of fraudsters posting fake airline ads on social media and tricking people into contacting fake travel agents via WhatsApp. Victims who fall for this are then directed to download what seems to be an airline app, but which is actually a program that gives the fraudsters access to their devices.
Subsequently, this enables them to make unauthorised transactions via your banking app, which they will instruct you to open after you’ve downloaded the aforementioned program.
FRAUDSTERS RELYING ON AI DEPLOYMENT TACTICS
To carry out their scams, fraudsters have also turned to AI in order to take advantage of victims who peruse digital channels for travel deals and related info.
For example, they may forward you personalised phishing emails that redirect you to fake travel sites. Alternatively, they will inform you of urgent airline or travel updates, be they gate changes, flight delays or cancellations.
These emails, cleverly crafted using AI technology, are designed to trick you into divulging your personal or banking information.
Similarly, scammers are using AI-powered chatbots. These chatbots seamlessly impersonate travel agents or customer service representatives. They will dangle discounted hotel, flight and holiday deals for non-existent trips; this allows fraudsters to steal your money, which they will pressure you to pay upfront.
PROTECT YOURSELF AGAINST SCAMS THIS SUMMER
To stay several steps ahead of scammers this summer, keep in mind the following tips:
- If the so-called travel agent or customer service representative is pressuring you to pay upfront immediately for holiday deals, then it’s most likely a scam.
- Similarly, be wary if they demand that you share your personal or banking information with them.
- Despite using AI, cybercriminals sometimes give themselves away by forwarding you links to websites that are poorly designed, lack detailed or verified information, don’t have any customer reviews, etc.
- Make your airline bookings via trusted, accredited airlines and/or travel agencies.
- Avoid transferring your money on unfamiliar, unsecure payment platforms.
- If you receive suspicious-looking emails pertaining to sudden changes in your bookings, contact the airline and/or travel agency directly for verification.
- Verify the legitimacy of travel providers. Genuine providers will readily give you information regarding their credentials and are transparent about their booking terms and conditions.
- Holiday deals that look too good to be true are likely fronts for scams. Trust your gut, regard these deals with scepticism and carry out thorough research before committing yourself to anything.
Summer is virtually right around the corner, fellow South Africans. As such, it’s imperative that you keep yourself clued up on these airline booking scams.
That way, you can smoothly plan your holiday and enjoy it in peace, too!
