82 pc of Indians express concern about ticket scams and other online scams related to major sporting events (Photo: Canva)
McAfee, an American propriety company, released a report India Safer Summer Travel Research which reveals that even though 86 pc of Indians research common travel scams before booking, 47 pc have fallen victim.
The report says that the allure of bargain deals on airfare, accommodation, and cheap excursions often entices travellers to fake payment sites and invalid bookings. These scams have a significant impact, as 53 pc of Indian travellers who experienced them lost money, with nearly 1 in 5 losing over INR 40,000. Younger holidaymakers aged 25-34 are the most at risk, with 31 pc clicking on malicious confirmation links and 25 pc deceived by manipulated travel photos.
The report adds that 82 pc of people express concern about ticket scams and other online scams related to major sporting events, domestic and international. Of those, 60 pc of them plan to exercise extra caution when making online purchases, while 23 pc remain unsure about how to effectively avoid these scams.
“With the peak summer travel season underway, there is a critical need for increased vigilance against travel scams due to the combination of people eagerly seeking budget-friendly options and the rising sophistication of fraudulent activities. With more than half of Indian holidaymakers or their acquaintances having experienced scams, it’s essential for everyone to verify sources, use secure payment methods, and be wary of deals that seem too-good-to-be-true to safeguard their dream vacations from becoming bad experiences,” says Pratim Mukherjee, Senior Director, Engineering, McAfee.
According to the report, more than 1 in 2 Indians, about 51 pc report that they or someone they know has fallen victim to a travel scam while on holiday. While 21 pc provided a deposit on rental/accommodation that turned out not to exist upon arrival, where they were not listed as registered, 12 pc had their passport or ID stolen, which led to identity theft. Additionally, 18 pc provided a deposit for an event or excursion, and the provider never showed up and another 18 pc provided a deposit or prepaid for an excursion, and it was nothing like what was marketed.
Amongst the many Indians who actively seek out deals, on accommodation, 46 pc, airfare, 39 pc and excursions, 40 pc; 16 pc say travellers were tricked into booking accommodation or trips that did not exist and to plan their trip, 10 pc spoke with someone who did not exist, says the report.
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