Co To district warns residents and tourists not to book tours to the island district from unreliable social media platforms to avoid scams and property theft.
On May 14, a representative of the Co To district People’s Committee in Quang Ninh province said that the district had received information about many individuals on social media taking advantage of the increasing demand for island tours during the summer to lure tourists with cheap tour packages, combos, and then deceive and steal their property.
These scammers often pretend to be employees or collaborators of travel companies, travel agencies or hotels on Co To Island, and urge customers to transfer money to book rooms or buy tickets in advance, claiming that it is the peak season and if they do not book quickly, the rooms will be sold out.
Moreover, to attract the attention of tourists, these fraudsters offer prices slightly lower than the average market price or promise customers that there are still rooms available during peak days or that they can book hotels that other agents cannot.
Some tourists and residents trust these scammers and transfer money as a deposit. After receiving the transfer, these individuals will block all contact with the customer.
Tourists are scammed by some social networking sites to sell cheap tours to Co To island and then appropriate deposits. Photo: M.L.
Co To district warns residents and tourists to book services through reputable travel companies, requiring them to provide business licenses, travel business licenses, confirmation of domestic travel business funds, and some other legally valid documents.
Tourists should not book services through intermediaries or unreliable social networking sites to avoid risks and being charged higher prices than the listed prices. The authorities, the Department of Culture and Information, will not handle cases of risk occurring when tourists book services through intermediaries (self-organized travel packages).
To avoid being deceived or to have evidence in case of deception, tourists need to keep all related information during the service purchase process such as payment receipts, emails, text messages, etc. When making transactions, buyers must ask the service providers to make contracts with detailed terms and clear regulations on responsibilities for violating the contract and sanctions. If there are any unusual signs, buyers need to report to the Quang Ninh Provincial Police and Co To district authorities to receive support in protecting their legitimate rights and interests.
Co To district recommends that tourists book services directly with tourism service providers in the district, including transport ships, tourist accommodations, restaurants, by booking through the phone number provided on the website or social networks of the establishments or the phone number of the business owner provided by the Department of Culture and Information and Tourism Association of Co To district, and require the service providers to provide business licenses and legally valid documents issued by authorized agencies.
In addition, Co To district also sets up a hotline to receive information and support tourists at phone number 0365.871.479 to receive feedback and information on tourism destinations in the district.
@Zing News