AirAsia Philippines has issued a warning to the public about an online travel fraud syndicate.
AirAsia Head of Travel, Rowena Rivera, urged travelers to use only legitimate booking apps such as the airline’s Superapp, which follows the highest standards in data handling, safety, and security. She also advised avoiding unverified groups and pages offering discounts on flights and hotels.
The warning comes after the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) reported that the number of travel-related online scams has increased by 16 times in two years, with 842 victims reported in 2023.
Recent reports revealed that half of the victims lost their money to scammers who offered discounted flights and accommodation.
In 2023 alone, travel-related online scams resulted in a loss of at least P13.2 million.
The PNP classifies travel scams into two categories. The first is “fakebooking,” where scammers steal travelers’ personal information.
The second classification covers those who lost their money to scammers or illegitimate online travel agents.
In many cases, victims were asked to send a downpayment or even a full payment to avail of a fake discount, only to discover later that they had been scammed.
PNP-ACG spokesman Lt. Col. Jay Guillermo urged air travelers to visit legitimate sites and official pages or applications to be more secure and aware of suspicious communication.
Travelers should conduct due diligence, read reviews, and hold off on sending payment, personal information, or identity documents until they are certain that the platform, seller, or agency they are dealing with is genuine.
Guillermo also advised travelers to avoid offers that seem too good to be true, as they could be scams if the prices are much less than the listed rates.