The local government of Samal Island, one of the tourist destinations in Davao del Norte, has warned the public against online scammers using fake Facebook pages of local resorts.
Authorities cautioned the public to be vigilant when booking accommodations online after the local government received reports from several resort owners about online booking scams.
Scammers allegedly copy the legitimate Facebook pages of resorts, steal promotional photos and videos, and repost them to appear authentic. They also allegedly offer suspicious discounts to lure victims.
Once a victim is convinced, the scammer will then ask for a deposit. However, the guest finds out that no booking was made upon arriving at the resort.
“Dili lang ang mga resort ilang ginapeke pati ang pag-collect og environmental fee kana naabot na sa atong City Tourism ang atong officer nga si Atty. Irish Villegas nag-conduct na og imbestigasyon bahin niana,” Committee on Tourism Chairwoman, Councilor Anne David, said.
David added that these scams could affect the island’s economy.
“Grabe ang akong kaguol niini kay dako kaayog epekto sa atong isla tungod ang ubang mga resort owners naga-reklamo kay ang uban they will not refer Samal kay masayang lang ang ilang kwarta,” David added.
To avoid getting scammed, authorities urged the public to:
- Verify the legitimacy of the Facebook page through the City Tourism Office since the number of followers is not always a guarantee
- Check if the reviews are consistent and credible
- Be cautious if a personal bank account is given for deposit transactions since legitimate businesses use official bank account
Victims of online booking scams are urged to report the incident to the police.
