Alla Khrapunova, the curator of the “MoShelovka” platform, has warned that fraud in hotel and tour bookings is a significant issue facing Russians planning vacations.
According to Khrapunova, perpetrators may create clones of official hotel and booking service websites, promote non-existent locations, and sell fictitious tours. Additionally, they offer tours through fake agencies and demand full payment upfront.
In a comment to RIA Novosti, Khrapunova noted that specialists recently discovered ten counterfeit websites for a single hotel, with the actual hotel unable to block the fraudulent sites promptly due to regulatory limitations in Russia.
Tourists are advised to meticulously review websites and advertisements when planning trips and to verify the seller’s credentials, avoiding transfers to personal accounts and individual entrepreneurs.
Khrapunova added that vacations ruined by fraud could significantly impact a person’s mental health.
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