Lam Dong police urge victims of fake hotel booking scams to report transfers

The police department of Lam Dong province in Vietnam has issued a warning about increasingly sophisticated scams that target travellers booking hotels, homestays or resorts online. Fraudsters create fake fanpages and websites that mimic reputable accommodations, lure customers with attractive promotions and then request bank transfers to “reserve” or “deposit” a room. They also seek OTP codes or banking login details, allowing them to drain the victim’s account within minutes.

Authorities advise anyone who has made such a payment and later discovers that the lodging does not exist or cannot be contacted to keep all transaction records, messages and the recipient’s account number, and to report the incident to the nearest police station for assistance.