The official fanpage of Moc Chau Island Resort posted a warning about bookings made through fake fanpages.

Recently, Ms. NTH from Hanoi used Facebook to search for information about Asahi Home Moc Chau to book accommodation for her family's visit and vacation. Upon visiting the Asahi Home Moc Chau Fanpage, she saw many posts and high engagement, so she messaged them to inquire about different room types. The fanpage administrator provided clear information and attached images, so she didn't suspect anything. After confirming the dates and number of rooms, she was asked to transfer a 100% deposit to reserve the rooms, citing the peak tourist season and the scarcity of rooms on weekends. After transferring the deposit to the account provided by the Asahi Home Moc Chau fanpage administrator, Ms. H tried to contact them again but was blocked. Only then did she search online for the homestay's phone number and realize she had been scammed.

People find information about tourism in Moc Chau through the website mocchautour.vn.

Although this scam is not new and has been warned about many times, cases like Ms. H's are quite common. Many people say that it's not that they didn't read the warnings from the authorities, but rather that when they weren't focused, their attention was diverted from performing the necessary actions or checking the information, making them victims.

Scammers create websites and fan pages that closely resemble those of reputable hotels, boasting tens of thousands of followers. They use hotline numbers to contact and advise tourists, building trust. After gaining the tourists' trust, the scammers request a deposit in advance, claiming the hotel is overbooked and that reservations will be lost. Some unsuspecting tourists transfer the deposit or pay for the room; the fake pages then claim the transfer was incorrect, requesting multiple transfers before blocking the customer's messages. The scammers collect the money but fail to provide the agreed-upon accommodation services.

This situation seriously affects the image of Moc Chau tourism and the reputation of tourist accommodation establishments. In light of this, the Department of Culture and Information of Moc Chau town advises residents to be vigilant against the methods and tricks used by criminals to commit fraud. At the same time, it reminds and guides accommodation establishments to proactively monitor and post warning information to advise customers to be more cautious and verify information when contacting them through online channels.

Ms. Dinh Thi Huong, Head of the Culture and Information Department of Moc Chau town, said: Before choosing to book a hotel, guesthouse, or homestay, tourists need to carefully research information, choose a reputable tourism service provider or book through available applications, and be wary of offers for rooms at excessively low prices, lower than market rates. After verifying contact information, carefully understand the booking and cancellation policies; request the accommodation provider to send booking confirmation information; and also request to see the business licenses of the service provider in the locality. At the same time, when discovering fake websites or Fanpages, report them immediately to the authorities for timely prevention and handling.

The website mocchautour.vn provides information about tourism businesses, organizations, and households operating in Moc Chau town.

Additionally, tourists can use the "Moc Chau Tour" application at mocchautour.vn to safely and conveniently search for tourism businesses, organizations, and households in the area; or if they have any doubts about the social media page of an accommodation establishment, they can contact the hotline at the phone number provided.0947.866.040To verify the authenticity of the website above, ensure a safe booking.

Source: Son La Newspaper