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Online travel booking scams - a growing risk?

thisismoney.co.uk reports on a travel scam that left hundreds in the cold...with no holiday and possibly no way of getting their money back...in what is being called a new high in UK online travel booking scams.
...internet messageboards were flooded with stories similar to Gary's. Complaints centred on a number of companies – Unbeatableholidays.com, Sunmedresorts.com, Holidaysforunder200pounds.com, Holidayrez.com and Holidayez.com. Chris Brown, director of Holidaywatchdog.com, said: 'It has been the biggest incident of this type that we have seen. It started with one but there were more and more posts about it every hour. Around 10,000 people have looked at the thread and so far 290 people have posted with their experiences. Most of these have been ripped off.'
Is this the new breed of online travel scams? A slick operation that most price-motivated travellers won't think twice about trusting with their hard-earned money? 3rd party online bookers have become a part of the online distribution network and a vital resource for those looking to book packaged travel and great deals. But has the clamor for great deals led far too many to hunt for that elusive, "unbeatable" offer...no matter who offers it?

This worrying trend definitely calls for some sort of framework to control what goes on the Internet in terms of selling travel, hotel and other products...but this will probably be a long time coming. For now though, let the buyer beware...and remember that if it looks too good to be true...it probably is! In any case, there are plenty of great, reputable 3rd party retailers and meta-search engines that provide good booking options and deals..not to mention the growing number of hotel and airline sites that offer best rate guarantees for bookers who book directly with them!

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Posted 08/24/06 by JJ | Filed under: E Commerce and E Business

Comments

I think it is shocking that people can advertise on website & steal our money! I had booked a holiday in june to go away on 9th sep for me and my 2 cousins, we are teenagers & it was my cousins 1st hol abroad so got passport & clothes, they told us we would receive tickets from ryanair 10days before we go, nothing came through so i e-mailed them, no reply, my dad found this page on internet when typed in holidayrez & bargainholidays. 750.00 we lost & no holiday, the people have my card details so had to cancell & i don't get a penny back. I think it is bad that they can do this!

Posted by Donna at 09/04/06 03:17:37

Hi Donna,

Sorry to hear that you too were affected by these scams :(

Guess scams are going to be part of consumer life - there are always people out there with clever ideas to rid people of their hard-earned money.

Would recommend booking directly with airlines and hotels...and sticking to trusted 3rd parties (for travel search and bookings). If you DO decide to go with new names, definitely "Google" them first to see if you can come up with credible info (or otherwise).

Posted by JJ at 09/04/06 09:01:15

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