Travel horror - Social media user exposes hotel booking scam, calls for tighter security

 

A social media user has raised the alarm on fake listing scam involving a well-known online accomodation booking platform. - Pic from X (Twitter)

KUALA LUMPUR: A social media user has raised the alarm on fake listing scam involving a well-known online accomodation booking platform.

In a series of postings on X, @ladsheer highlighted the matter when she shared her ordeal placing a reservation with the accomodation booking platform for a family gathering.

Trusting the platform's reputation and after carrying out a number of checks, the social media user proceeded to place the booking although the so-called property was new to the site.

"Seems legit, cheaper because it's new maybe."

Her nightmare started after she found out the property did not exist. Her concerns compounded after the owner of the so-called property went incommunicado. Several attempts to reach out to the owner were unsuccessful.

Finally, a Facebook search revealed the truth – the villa was a scam.

She contacted the platform to complain about her predicament but was disappointed by their response. She said according to the site, their "partner" was unable to accommodate her and provided no explanations.

"I am extremely disappointed by the fact that the platform approved a non-existent property and allowed a scammer to operate on their platform."

Her post has been re-posted over 2,000 times and has garnered more than 300,000 views on X. And the incident is not an isolated case and others shared similar tales of being duped on the platform.

Better latte shared: "Used the platform to book a room. Arrived at the hotel and they said they no longer list their property on the platform. However, the hotel still appears on their listings."

Ha Seok-jin said they've booked numerous rooms for several hotels and two of the hotels said they never listed their property on the platform.

"Never use the platform again."

Another user, Freedom to Watermelon said it is unbelievable that the "scammer" made it to the property booking site as they were only operating on the social media platform before this.

"The reason for its low price is because it's newly listed on the platform. Early bird discount. However, after making the deposit payment, communication went silent.

"According to security guards, there are no properties in the area registered as homestay." - NST