The Baja California Sur (BCS) Cyber Police have observed an increasing online scam trend that has impacted some tourists.
Scammers are targeting people who book their trips online. Tourists visiting Los Cabos have nothing to fear in this case.
Specifically, reservations for travel and lodging are the two primary origins of this growing cybercrime. It has been a problem sporadically in 2023; Los Cabos Hotel Association confirmed several cases.
How Are Tourists Being Targeted?
It should be obvious to travelers that making reservations online must be a very easy process. Any third party ought to raise suspicions.
When making reservations in Los Cabos, some tourists have fallen for scams that require them to pay through intermediaries.
The Los Cabos Hotel Association has reported that some WhatsApp users have been pretending to be hotels and requesting payments through the app instead of paying for your hotel or flight on the same website you searched.
Depending on where you thought you were booking and how long you planned to stay, you might have wasted up to $1500 due to the current sky-high rates.
“In Los Cabos some did get reported, I was specifically notified by two hotels that had this situation and even by WhatsApp, they hooked you with the page and the reservation, they finished it through WhatsApp and that’s where the fraud was committed.”
“…we also reinforce as much as possible through different channels, especially through the channels of each company, which is always to check and double check that the pages are official,” said Executive President of the Los Cabos Hotel Association, Lilzi Orcí Fregozo
This type of Internet scam not only targets travelers booking tours and accommodations in Los Cabos. Travelers booking tours, golf courses or retreats can also be affected.
Advice For Preventing Cybercrimes In Los Cabos
The Los Cabos Hotel Association launched a new campaign to warn tourists about the dangers of making travel reservations online because these cybercrimes have grown to be a significant problem.
It is only right to attempt to resolve this regrettable issue before it worsens because some tourists are arriving at their hotel to check in only to find their reservation is invalid.
In collaboration with the Los Cabos Hotel Association and the Cyber Unit of the Baja California Sur Public Safety Secretariat, we offer the following tips to help you protect yourself from scammers during the Los Cabos vacation season:
- Avoid making reservations through third-party websites or apps, including WhatsApp.
- Opt for well-known and reputable platforms for travel-related bookings.
- Verify the authenticity of the website before making any transactions.
- Refrain from making upfront payments directly to bank accounts, especially for private vacation rentals.
Scams like these are not exclusive to Los Cabos. Cancun and Acapulco, two more Mexican beach resort cities, have also been identified as major targets of cybercrimes.