Travellers warned of rise in airline booking scams ahead of December holidays

It’s that time of year when South Africans are planning their long-deserved December getaways, and many are being enticed by tempting adverts that appear on social media channels.

However, clicking on the wrong link could lead to a nasty surprise for some, as holiday travel booking scams are on the rise.

Discovery has warned that an increasing number of fraudsters are posting fake airline adverts on social media, and then duping them into contacting fake travel agents via WhatsApp.

Victims are then asked to download a fake airline app through a link, giving scammers remote access to their devices. Once access is gained, the fraudster asks the victim to log in to their banking app, after which the screen goes blank and unauthorised transactions are made.

To avoid such scams, victims are urged to book flights only through official websites and trusted agencies. "Verify the identity of anyone you’re speaking to, or the validity of discount offers," Discovery advises.

Never, under any circumstances, should you disable your phone’s security settings, allow remote access or log into banking apps while screen sharing. It goes without saying that you should never share your banking details, pins or OTPs.

The golden rule, as the saying goes, is “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

AI creating a 'playground' for scammers

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has created a literal playground for scammers, particularly in the travel sector where fake booking platforms, some even featuring fabricated reviews, have become commonplace.

A 2024 study by Originality.ai showed that fake AI-generated airline reviews has increased by 189% since the release of ChatGPT.

“Despite confidence in their own ability, humans tend to struggle to spot AI-generated content,” says John Gillham, CEO at Originality.ai. “A study revealed that experienced teachers only accurately identified 37.8% of AI texts. Which is why AI content detectors are so important.”

Travellers are also urged to beware of AI-powered chatbots that offer discounts on flights or holiday packages. Fraudsters are increasingly using these bots to lure customers into paying for trips that don’t exist.

AI-generated phishing emails are another common fraud tactic, in which individuals are tricked into revealing personal information after being directed to fake travel websites.

These emails don’t just come in the form of sales tactics - they also sometimes trick clients by claiming flight cancellations or prompting “urgent” booking changes.

In such instances, clients are advised to contact the company directly through their official channels, and do not use any of the contact details provided on the email.

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now

IOL Business