Tuyen Quang police warn of hotel booking scams during Thanh Tuyen Festival

Scammers are targeting tourists during the Thanh Tuyen Festival in Tuyen Quang by creating fraudulent Facebook Fanpages that impersonate reputable hotels and restaurants. These fake pages use stolen logos, images, addresses, and phone numbers to mimic legitimate businesses and often use paid advertisements to reach travelers.

To build credibility, the perpetrators use fake accounts to post positive comments and five-star reviews. They typically offer room rates lower than the market price and use limited-time promotions to pressure victims into paying deposits or full payments to “hold a room.” Once the money is transferred, scammers may send fake booking confirmations or request additional payments under the guise of correcting transaction errors. After collecting multiple payments, they block the victims and disappear.

Authorities have advised travelers to verify all information before making transactions. If suspicious activity is detected, citizens are encouraged to report the pages to Facebook and preserve evidence, such as message screenshots and transaction receipts, to report to the police.