Cheap travel packages: A dream vacation or a million-dollar scam?

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by Editor CLD

With the travel season approaching, the desire to "pack your bags and go" is increasing. Exploiting the desire to find cheap tickets and great deals, scammers have launched a series of sophisticated schemes, causing many people to lose money and suffer consequences.

To protect yourself and your family, let's work together. Anti-Phishing Identifying the "old wine in new bottles" tactics that are flourishing in 2026.

Common scam tactics

These days, scammers don't just disappear after receiving the money; they stage incredibly professional scenarios:

  • The booking confirmation code (PNR) is "real" but… fake: This is an extremely sophisticated trick.
  • Scammers access the airline's official website to make (unpaid) bookings and then send you a PNR code.
  • When you check the system, the information matches perfectly. However, in reality, this code will automatically expire after 12-24 hours if payment is not made.
  • As soon as you trust them enough to transfer the money, they won't issue the tickets and will block all communication.
  • “Fake "verification badge," illusory credibility:
  • Many groups and fanpages that have been acquired or leased already have Facebook verification badges, tens of thousands of followers, and hundreds of positive "seeding" comments.
  • They impersonate large resorts and reputable travel companies to run advertisements for discounted combo packages (30-50%).
  • "Diplomatic" slots, "last-minute" tickets:
  • They exploit people's sense of urgency by advertising last-minute cancellations, super-cheap internal tickets, and demanding immediate payment to "reserve" a spot because others are waiting.
  • Sophisticated fake website:
  • Domain names such as vietnamairlines-giare[.]com good booking-uudai[.]xyz The interface is designed to look exactly like the official homepage in order to trick users into entering their payment information.

How to recognize and prevent it

Don't be blinded by the glamorous images and unbelievable prices. Keep these rules in mind:

Quick reference table for risk identification

TokenLevel
danger
Recommended action
Cheaper than market price >30%⚠️ HighCompare prices directly on the airline's website or through reputable intermediary platforms like Agoda/Booking.
Request a transfer to my personal account.⚠️ HighPrefer payment through the official payment gateway or company account.
Urging or pressuring for immediate money transfer.⚠️⚠️ Very highVerify the information calmly; do not transfer money under psychological pressure.
The website has a strange domain extension..xyz, .cc, .tk)❌ Absolutely avoidOnly conduct transactions on official .vn or .com domain names.

How to verify credibility

  • Verify the code: When you receive your flight ticket PNR or booking code, please call the airline/hotel's hotline directly to inquire: “"Has this code been paid for (issued) or is it just a booking?"”
  • Check the credibility of the fanpage: Check the "Website Transparency" section to see the creation date and name change history. If a large travel website is only a few months old or changes its name from "Selling Clothes" to "Cheap Travel," then 99% is a scam.
  • Find information at ChongLuaDao.vn: Before clicking on any links or transacting with unfamiliar accounts, please use AI tools for fraud prevention. to check the safety level.

What should you do if you've already fallen into a trap?

If you unfortunately become a victim, don't remain silent because that will only abet the perpetrators:

  • Contact the bank immediately.Call the bank's hotline or visit the nearest branch to request a temporary halt to transactions or a freeze on the account/card. Provide the scammer's beneficiary account number so the bank can add them to its alert list.
  • Preserve evidence: Please save all relevant information, including:
  • Contact informationPhone number, social media account, Telegram ID, or any other communication channel of the scammer.
  • Content of the exchange: Screenshots of text messages and recorded calls used for scams.
  • Financial proofh: Money transfer receipts, bank account statements, transaction codes (TransID).
  • Report to the authorities: Report the crime to the nearest local police station (commune/ward) or the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (PA05) at the Provincial/City Police Department.
  • Report immediately: Send the information to Anti-Phishing So that we can warn the community and block malicious websites.

A happy vacation begins with alertness.
Don't let the "cheap" trap ruin your travel plans.


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