Findings by www.fraudtip.com have revealed that a well-organised online fraud syndicate is scamming thousands of traveller monthly – 71,000 to be exact – who are placing reservations with leading US hotel chains such as Hyatt, TravelLodge and Ramada among others.
The modus operandi, according to FraudTip works on a combination of “advanced online advertising, bogus hotel locators, third-party reservation systems and internet browser crimeware to redirect hotel guest traffice to fake versions of popular hotel websites”.
Not only are deluxe chains affected but budget properties and casinos as well.
Hardest hit, the report claimed, was Super 8 Motels, Days Inn and Ramada, owned by Wyndham Worldwide, which is said to be the largest global hotel chain. About 50,000 requests are redirected to bogus sites monthly.
Another 15,862 guest hopefuls are redirected from Comfort Inn of Choice Hotels International, with Econo Lodge and Clarion Hotels & Resorts, also Choice brands, as fellow victims.
FraudTip used a number of methodologies to conduct its investigation.
Margie T Logarta
