Book now, fly never? Online travel scams on the rise in PH

Mary (not her real name) only wanted to give her daughter the best experience. As an overseas Filipino worker (OFW), spending time with her family is already a rare treat — moreso going on an adventure with her loved ones abroad.

So when her daughter graduated in April, their family booked a two-week trip to Thailand, with Mary taking charge of all the preparations. She had everything planned — tickets, accommodation, itinerary — but one thing remained missing: travel insurance.

Following her cousin’s advice, Mary scoured the internet for travel agencies, hoping to find affordable offers. One company immediately responded to her inquiry: YSL Travel and Tours.

At first glance, YSL Travel and Tours seemed legitimate. It had over 28,000 Facebook followers, numerous testimonials, and responded swiftly even at dawn. When a page administrator offered her insurance for just ?600 per person, she thought she had found a bargain. She was told to pay a 60% downpayment right away.

Mary dozed off and woke up to a barrage of follow-up messages from the agency asking for payment. But the administrator suddenly changed the rate and said she needed to fully settle the amount to avail of their service.

She paid, expecting a smooth transaction. But to her dismay, that was the last of their conversation.

“I noticed they stopped sending updates after I paid for the insurance. I sent messages, but no one was reading them. I started getting worried because they had been very quick to respond earlier in the day,” Mary told GMA Integrated News.

Her worry soon turned into dread. Calls went unanswered. Messages remained unseen.

“I called them using my daughter’s phone and a woman answered. She told me to wait for the processing, which gave me hope. But the next day, they stopped picking up altogether—even when I used different numbers,” she added.

Mary eventually realized she may have fallen victim to an online travel scam.

Travel scams on the rise

Mary’s case is not unique. She is among hundreds of Filipinos who have fallen prey to the growing number of online travel scams in the country.

According to the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG), there has been a sharp rise in reported cases of this scam trend in recent years.

In 2021, the PNP-ACG recorded 39 travel scam cases in the Philippines. This went up to 91 in 2022, and then to 313 in 2023. From January to May 2025 alone, authorities said they have already received 89 reports.

“Most of the victims fell for fake travel packages, fraudulent accommodation offers, and false travel agents who could no longer be contacted after being paid,” said Police Lieutenant Edessa Rodriguez, PNP-ACG Assistant Public Information Officer.

Rodriguez added that scam cases often peak between March and April, when many Filipinos are eager to travel for the summer season and the long holidays.

YSL Travel and Tours

Using open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools, GMA Integrated News looked into the legitimacy of YSL Travel and Tours.

Researchers found a Facebook group where users flag suspicious travel agencies and discovered that some victims had tagged YSL Travel and Tours as a scam.

Some netizens shared their bad experiences with the agency, while others warned travelers against it. Other posts even included fraudulent documents the group allegedly presented to appear legitimate, including a certificate of registration, a business permit from the local government of Bacolod City, and supposed membership certifications from the Philippine Travel Agencies Association Inc. (PTAA) and the CALABARZON Alliance of Independent Tour Operators Inc. (CAITO).

However, a quick check on the PHILTOA website showed the travel agency was not affiliated with the organization. GMA Integrated News also reached out to the Department of Tourism, which confirmed it was not among its accredited travel companies.

But that was only the tip of the iceberg.

Upon checking customer testimonies, researchers found that some positive reviews tagged another Facebook page: RNB Travel and Tours.

RNB Travel and Tours touted numerous recognitions but did not mention any award-giving bodies. It even claimed Kapuso stars Dennis Trillo and Jennylyn Mercado have availed of their services, thanking them through a social media post.

The transparency section of the travel agency’s Facebook page showed it was created only in January and has since changed names three times: 38 Travel and Tours, YSL Travel and Tours, and most recently, RNB Travel and Tours.

Using its new name, researchers checked the Facebook group again — and found similar reports. Some netizens questioned the legitimacy of RNB Travel and Tours, while others said it was a fake travel agency.

A reverse Google image search on some of the photos used in the testimonials on their page revealed matching results from other travel agencies’ Facebook pages, bearing similar logos, awards, and names.

Some posts also appeared to have been stolen from legitimate social media users and reposted by newly created accounts posing as satisfied customers.

Further research likewise indicated that RNB Travel and Tours has multiple Facebook accounts under different names, including Hinata Travel and Tours, MK8 Travel and Tours, R28 Travel and Tours, Natsumi Travel and Tours, Takumi Travel and Tours, Miyamoto Travel and Tours, and Sakura Travel and Tours. All exhibited the same patterned behavior as YSL Travel and Tours and RNB Travel and Tours.

Some of these pages have already been deleted, while others have remained operational since 2024.

Few reported cases

While the number of reported cases is rising, the PNP-ACG said the lack of formal complaints may have enabled these fake travel agencies to continue operating.

“They might be able to keep operating because the police have yet to receive complaints. That is why the PNP-ACG reminds the public to always report scam cases so we can properly investigate,” Rodriguez said.

According to the police, investigations only start when a victim files a complaint. Court action also depends on the strength of the evidence gathered.

“If we have identified the perpetrators, then we may file cases immediately. But if we do not know the persons, we may apply for a warrant to disclose computer data (WDCD) to the court to oblige service providers, financial institutions, social media platforms, and telecommunication companies to share information about them,” she explained.

A WDCD is a judicial order authorizing law enforcement agencies to require service providers to submit computer data in their possession or control, such as subscriber information, within 72 hours.

“If we do not apply for a WDCD, that may compromise the investigation because we cannot easily obtain information due to the Data Privacy Act. We need to undergo legal processes to obtain such information,” Rodriguez added.

Spot red flags

Meanwhile, the PNP-ACG shared several reminders and red flags that travelers may watch out for to avoid falling victim to scams:

• Verify the legitimacy of the travel website or account by checking if they are authorized to operate the business or have permits from the DTI.
• Do not believe “too good to be true” deals.
• Think twice if the travel agency pressures customers to pay immediately.

For Mary, the money she lost may be minimal compared to other victims but she took it as a lesson to remain vigilant against scammers.

“We should always be cautious, especially on online and social media transactions. If you plan to avail of a service, make sure someone you know has tried it, not just something you found online. Because it can really happen, you can still get scammed. That’s the only reminder I can give to others,” she said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News