Hotel Booking Scams
The pattern is straightforward: fraudsters create Facebook pages mimicking legitimate hotels, post professional imagery, build follower counts, then disappear after collecting deposits. Verify any hotel booking through the official website only, not through social media advertisements; cross-reference the phone number on the official site before transferring funds. Payment should go to the hotel's registered bank account, which the official website provides; use credit card or PayPal for dispute protection rather than direct transfer methods. If a deal appears significantly cheaper than comparable listings, it is likely fraudulent. Contact the hotel directly through their primary phone line to confirm any booking before arrival; scammers do not have access to the actual reservation system.
