Beware of ‘vacation scam,’ PNP tells public

FILE PHOTO: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is warning the public against a “vacation scam” where fraudsters dangle travel packages at a very low price. Photo by Jack Jarilla

MANILA, Philippines —  Ready for a summer vacation? Go ahead. Just make sure it’s legit and not a sham.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is warning the public against a “vacation scam” where fraudsters dangle travel packages at a very low price.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo believed that the emergence of such a racket may have stemmed from so-called “revenge travel” following years of lockdown and travel curbs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The public should beware of this scheme, but this warning is not limited to vacation scams but also sketchy offers of cheap services and products […] If it’s too good to be true, then probably it’s not true,” Fajardo said in Filipino during a press briefing on Friday.

READ: How to avoid falling prey into online travel scams

Citing data from the Anti-Cybercrime Group, the police official revealed the documentation of 478 cases of vacation scams.

Specifically, she said, 39 cases were recorded in 2021; 91 in 2022; 313 in 2023, and 35 since January this year.

For travelers who are unsure of the vacation packages offered to them, Fajardo said the Department of Tourism, as well as PNP, is open to accommodate their questions or validations related to such promos or offers.