scams Archives

Hotels

Airbnb’s Next Big Challenge Is Keeping the Scammers Away

Airbnb is far past the early adopter phase, but it is just now entering the phase where its hosts and guests may not be there just for the sharing and belonging.

Grant Martin, Skift | 7 years ago

Online Travel

The Bogus Travel Voucher Scam Is as Healthy as Ever

Nothing in life is free. Especially a pitch by a skeevy timeshare salesman.

Jeff Gelles, The Philadelphia Inquirer | 8 years ago

Online Travel

Investor Buys YTB International Out of Bankruptcy For $3.5 Million

The article says YTB fielded 130,000 independent travel agents, but many of these people were merely buying discounted travel for themselves and family, and making money by signing up other new "agents." What the new owners do with the company will merit close scrutiny.

Lisa Brown, St. Louis Post-Dispatch | 9 years ago

Hotels

Timeshare king David Siegel wears down sales agents he decided not to pay

Whether it's Westgate or a more reputable company like Wyndham, the reality of a timeshare rarely matches the promise of a high-pressure sales pitch -- no matter which end of that pitch you're on.

David Wren, The Sun News | 9 years ago

Tourism

Man faces 31 years in prison for fabricating tour operator and scamming elderly tourists

This is a tourist’s worse nightmare, and likely happens more often than people realize. The problem is amplified abroad where language barriers and foreign laws make it more difficult to take action.

Ellen Creager, Detroit Free Press | 9 years ago

Short-Term Rentals

King of timeshares: Too poor to pay sales agents, rich enough to build world’s biggest McMansion

To outsiders, timeshare salesman exist to make used-car salesman look respectable. To multi-millionaire Siegel they exist to sell your properties, then not pay commissions to. It's hard to imagine a situation where someone could look scummier.

David Wren, The Sun News | 10 years ago

Airlines

Unemployed Italian man arrested in Turin after posing as pilot and flying in cockpit

This incident and the recent case of the 11-year-old boy who flew without a ticket demonstrate that breaches of security don't require high-tech smarts or brute force, just a bit of confidence and the right set of circumstances.

Frances D'Emilio, Associated Press | 10 years ago

Media and PR

Email phishing scam uses Booking.com name to swipe personal data

It's a sign of success when scammers start trading on your successful name to trick users into opening emails from suspect sources and then click on an attachment.

Skift | 10 years ago

SkiftX

How to beat 10 common travel scams

From vacation clubs to timeshare sales, consumer travel advocates tell you what you need to know to avoid losing money.