Scams to beware of when you rent a car, or accommodation

Not all scammers operate on the internet, or by ringing you with a far-fetched story.

Some big corporations, and short-term accommodation hosts, are not above trying to gouge their customers.

Any sane person renting a car knows to take photos of the vehicle - inside and out - when picking up or dropping off.

There have been multiple reports of renters bring accused of damaging a vehicle, or not returning it at all. And then being charged large sums for their "errors".   

It happened to me once in France. Eventually the rental company found the car and apologised. 

Now there are increasing reports of Airbnb hosts trying to scam guests and/or their insurance companies.

Airbnb recently apologised to a woman after an apartment host falsely claimed she had caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage and used images she says were digitally manipulated to back up his allegations.

The London-based academic was refunded almost £4,300, and an internal review of how the case was dealt with has been launched at the short-term accommodation rental company.

The incident highlighted how cheap and easily available artificial intelligence software is now being used to manipulate images to give false evidence of what has happened in consumer complaints, according to one security expert.

Shortly after the woman checked out, the host told Airbnb that she had caused more than £12,000 worth of damage, and submitted pictures of an apparently cracked coffee table as part of his case.

His allegations included that she had stained a mattress with urine, and damaged a robot vacuum cleaner, a sofa, a microwave, a TV and an air conditioner.

The woman denied any damage had been done to the apartment, The Guardian newspaper reported. She said she left it in good condition and had only two visitors during the seven weeks she stayed.

“My concern is for future customers who may become victims of similar fraudulent claims and do not have the means to push back so much or give into paying out of fear of escalation,” the woman says.

“Given the ease with which such images can now be AI-generated and apparently accepted by Airbnb despite investigations, it should not be so easy for a host to get away with forging evidence in this way.”

Airbnb said the host had been warned for violating its terms and told he would be removed if there was another similar report. 

It said there would be a review into how her case was handled. “We take damage claims seriously - our specialist team reviews all available evidence to reach proportionate outcomes for both parties, and to help ensure a fair approach, decisions can be appealed," it said.  

Serpil Hall, the director of economic crime at the management consultants Baringa, told The Guardian that manipulating images and videos was now “easier than ever”, and software to do so was cheap, widely available and required little skill to use.

In one recent case an insurance company found there had been an increase in false claims on vehicles and home repairs using photos that had been manipulated.

“Recently, many companies have decided images can’t be taken at face value any more [during disputes], and there is a need for forensic tools and fraud intelligence models to validate them.”

So now with car rental companies I video and photo every square inch of a car at pickup and then at drop off.

Maybe we should all do the same when we stay at Airbnb or other rental properties, where hosts have been known to claim renters did not leave the keys, or caused excessive damage.

You need to have evidence of dropping the car off, the parking spot number where you left it etc. Or time-dated images that show you left an apartment in immaculate condition and showing you have left the keys behind when you exit. 

The "missing" keys are reportedly a common scam.

The host claims you lost the keys and you get charged for new locks. Or their insurance company does.

.Also beware of demands for additional fees, deposits, local taxes, or other amounts not mentioned in the listing when you check into a short-term rental property.

Be careful out there folks.

Image: Ivan Naunov, Scop.io

How to stay a step ahead of travel cybercriminals

Over the past few weeks I have received a number of emails ostensibly from Booking.com.

I've had complaints about the standards of accommodation that I've provided to my guests.

I've had queries about local offerings that future guests should know about, and threats to shut down my business if I do not respond to various complaints.

I do not offer any accommodation, but the fact I write about travel appears to have attracted the eye of various scammers (all with dodgy email addresses) urging me to click on a link so my problems can be resolved.

Just another scam for the unwary to watch out for.

Cybercriminals are sharpening their tactics to exploit unsuspecting consumers with a rise in various ranges of fraudulent activity prompting the travel industry to examine online safety measures.

Booking.com, a leader in travel and accommodation services and the company my pesky correspondents pretend to represent, has stepped up to offer essential advice to travellers on how to stay vigilant and protect their personal information in an era of rampant online bastardry. 

Recent data from the Identity Theft Resource Centre shows data breaches increased by 14% year-over-year during the first half of 2024.

With an estimated 3.4 billion phishing emails circulating daily, the digital landscape is more dangerous than ever.

Cybercriminals are leveraging increasingly sophisticated methods, including social engineering, phishing scams, and fake booking sites, to trick consumers into revealing personal or financial information.

To help combat the growing risk of cyber fraud in the travel sector, Booking.com has shared safety tips that travellers should consider before hitting the “book now” button.

It is crucial to ensure that any website where you share data is secure. Cybercriminals frequently exploit trust, pretending to represent reputable organizations or individuals to deceive their victims.

The key to avoiding such attacks is maintaining a sceptical mindset. If you receive unsolicited requests for personal or financial information, avoid clicking on links or opening attachments. Instead, contact the organisation or individual directly through official channels to verify the request.

There are a few common red flags to watch out for, including language demanding urgent action. Also look out for spelling or grammatical errors. And make sure email addresses match the official domain.

When booking accommodation online, it’s essential to scrutinise the payment and damage deposit policies. Scammers often create urgency by asking for large sums of money to be transferred within 24 hours to “secure” a booking. They may also request payments via third-party platforms, which is a significant red flag.

Be careful out there people. 

Thailand to crack down on tour scams

Just as Bali is taking a hard line on badly-behaved tourists, Thailand is ready to act on tour scammers.

"Zero dollar tours" focus largely on unsuspecting Chinese travellers and have impacted the reputation of Thailand’s tourism industry.

Tourism minister Sermsak Pongpanich said over the weekend that he has directed the Tourist Police to crack down on the price-dumping tours.

The action comes after President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn, raised the matter with the Prime Minister.

Sermsak says there are a large number of unlicensed travel agencies selling cheap loss-leading packages to Thailand where guests are then forced into certain stores during tours and pressurised to buy overpriced goods.

Often, threats are used to pressure tourists to buy, Travel Mole reported. There have also been reports of physical assaults and of groups locked inside a store and only allowed out after spending.

It has been primarily a problem targeting Chinese tour groups but Sermsak says Russian and Indian groups are also being targeting more frequently.

Some tourism industry insiders say the problem is the worst it has been for years.

“This tarnishes Thailand’s image, making the country appear cheap and unsafe,” Sisdivachr said.   

Sophisticated scammers find new ways to get your money

It seems to be a busy time of the year for scammers.

Just this morning my mobile phone pinged, announcing the arrival of yet another scam message designed to part me from my cash.

This one was ostensibly from Australia Post, although the poor grammar, Americanisms and strange address were a giveaway for anyone bar an idiot in a hurry.

It read: Australia - Post Center: Your parcel has not arrived, need timely verification, please click on https://aupost.dazifan.com or will be refunded!

And, of course there was a handy link for me to click on. No thanks. Blocked.

Then I was reading the morning paper to be alerted to another fraud: Australian Open Fans Targeted by Scammers Selling Fake Tickets

This one involves deceptive online websites that mimic official ticket distributors, using very similar URLs to dupe fans into buying counterfeit tickets or divulging personal information.

This week I have also received several emails from suspicious-looking email addresses seeking to confirm accommodation that has been "booked" with me.

They go along these lines: Greetings, I would like to book a Single Standard Room, for the dates from March 4, to March 8, 2024. Could you please confirm the current availability and share information on the pricing? Thanks.

You respond, as most decent people would, saying there has been an error and that you do not have accommodation.

But they persist: Hi! I've booked a room successfully, but my card hasn't been charged. Despite the confirmed reservation, I'm concerned about a potential cancellation. Could you check my details through the provided reservation page link? Your support is greatly appreciated!

How polite. But if you are silly enough to click on the link your computer will be uploaded with malware. 

Let's be careful out there people.

 

Beware: A scam coming soon from a scumbag near you

 

There is a new scam in town and it is devilishly simple and hard to combat.

It originates in the US, as so many scams do, and can affect anyone who has ordered goods over the internet, or arranged for home delivery.

You are particularly at risk if your order involves perishable foodstuffs, medicines, RATs, fresh flowers, or even drinks you need to arrive in time for an event.

The scam goes by the name of Rapid Access Fees, or Immediate Delivery Charges.

The deal is that you pay extra to ensure that the parcel you really need arrives on time, rather than a few days down the track.

Many courier companies and postal services, of course, charge express delivery fees up front. You know what you are paying for and it is included in your bill, or paid by the sender. Perfectly legit.

But what if you receive a call out of the blue, offering instant delivery for "an extra fee"? Probably a cash payment, too.

Be immediately suspicious. A scammer has somehow inserted themselves into what are now increasingly complex supply chains, often involving several couriers or contactors, particularly in rural areas.

Other scams in the same ballpark include cybercriminals sending fake parcel delivery notifications to trick you - or threaten to charge you a fee for them holding an undelivered item.

Here's one example. You receive a call from someone claiming to be an Australia Post or courier employee advising a parcel was not delivered but redelivery can be arranged after you make a payment.

The payment amount may vary and the scammer may ask for payment in a number of ways including credit card, or international wire transfer. Or COD.

Australia Post has also warned of fraudulent emails that are circulating advising customers of "on hold" deliveries and prompting them to click on a link to pay a fee to have that parcel delivered.

Once clicked on, the link will lead to a fake Australia Post website which is designed to steal your personal and financial information.

Again. Be very careful.

The legalities of being charged an extra fee will vary according to your residence and local jurisdiction, but it is certainly something to look out for - and alert the police if necessary. 

Caveat emptor.

Image: Sebastian Japson, Scop.io

Are you being conned when you buy your wine?

Have you ever received a cold call from a helpful person offering to sell you a case of wine that is "extraordinary value" or a "one-off opportunity"? 

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware. Let alarm bells ring. 

A friend of mine received a call out of the blue the other day from a company from which he had previously purchased a very acceptable Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon. 

A Kiwi expat and a huge fan of Marlborough sauvignon blanc, he was seduced by a sales patter for a sauvignon blanc which he was assured was a "bargain"  and "remarkable for the price"

"I don't think it tastes like what I was told," he says.

He paid under $10 a bottle for a dozen generic label sauvignon blancs that were labelled "South-East Australia". And came from a no-name producer. 

I tasted the wine and he got what he paid for: a $10 wine of the quality you might expect to see poured by the glass in a suburban pub. 

He did not, however, get what he was promised. I advised him to send the remaining wines back for a full refund. 

Many others buying that same wine - and others like it - will not be bothered with the hassle of going to the post office. They will be drinking inferior wine, feeling cheated, while a salesman will be drinking better wine on the commission he has just made. 

There are plenty of pitfalls when it comes to buying a wine you have not tasted, whether that a purchase be over the phone, through a wine club, or buying cleanskins at a local bottle shop. 

Let me advise you of a couple of common scams.

One very well-known wine club, which I will not name because I have no wish to be sued, offers, and I paraphrase, "outstanding wines from some of Australia's finest boutique producers". 

Yet many of those wines actually come from very large wineries and are bottled as special labellings for that wine club and others like it. 

The blurb may well say "RRP $40" or "worth $50 a bottle" - but these wines are usually not available in retail stores and are sold under labels you may never see again. 

Also watch our for "rated 98 points". I'm increasingly seeing wines promoted by making that sort of claim that use the seller's own ratings, or those of paid-for reviewers. Pay attention. 

Also beware of reviews of a completely different vintage of the wine which you are being encouraged to buy. Some years are much better than others. 

Also beware of cleanskins (wines with no labels and no label info) and make sure you buy bottles from the same case as the wine you have tasted comes from. 

One box of $4.99 a bottle cabernet in an unopened box may be very different to the delicious wine you have just tried. Smoke and mirrors.

Just remember that there is plenty of cheap fruit on the market. Anyone can bottle up a batch under flashy label and make outrageous claims about a "failed export order" or "the biggest bargain of the year". 

Try before you buy, or choose wines that have been recommended by someone you trust. It's a wine jungle out there and you don't want to be the one who gets eaten alive.    

My friend, meanwhile, is awaiting his refund and has learned a valuable lesson. 

Gatwick leads the way as travel industry rip-offs kick in

Penny pinching is a way of life in the hospitality industry. Resort charges, credit card surcharges, late check-out fees; premium seats. Some hotels still charge outrageous sums for wifi. 

And as Covid-19 continues to bit into income streams look out for more nickle-and-diming of customers across the travel spectrum. 

London's Gatwick Airport is the latest operator to sting passengers - but travellers can expect more across the globe. 

Gatwick Airport has confirmed it will introduce a £5 minimum fee ($9) to drop passengers outside its North Terminal from March 8 "as it explores new revenue streams'. 

The charge will be £5 for up to 10 minutes, and £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes. The maximum charge will be £25 - an absolute outrage. The maximum length of stay 30 minutes.

The airport will extend the charge to the South Terminal "at a later date". No surprise there. Only the North Terminal is currently operational, Travel Mole reported.


Gatwick said the initiative will help reduce traffic congestion and emissions and create a "vital new revenue stream".


Anyone not wishing to pay the charge will be able to drop off and pick up passengers in the airport's long-stay car parks, which have two hours free parking and a free shuttle bus to the terminal. 


Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Pollard said: "It is no secret that the airport is going through the most difficult period in its history and we have little choice but to explore new revenue streams that will us help us recover from the Covid-19 crisis and continue as an important provider of economic prosperity and jobs across the region.


"This scheme will also encourage passengers to consider more sustainable transport options."

Disabled drivers will be able to access the forecourt free of charge by registering their details up to three months in advance before arriving at the airport. 

The rest of us can be prepared to be ripped off - right across the globe.