Fake Travel Sites Swindle Vacationers as Summer Season Heats Up

As the summer travel season peaks, scammers are flooding the internet with counterfeit websites posing as travel agencies, children’s camps, and sanatoriums. These fake sites lure would-be vacationers with too-good-to-be-true deals, demanding upfront payment for trips that don’t exist. Evgeny Masharov, a member of the Russian Public Chamber’s commission on public oversight, warned that once the money is sent, the fraudsters vanish.

Masharov urged travelers to verify any tour operator through the Unified Federal Register of Tour Operators before booking, and to only make payments to a legal entity’s official bank account. He noted that scammers often dress up their pages with urgent messages like “Only two spots left—book now at a great price!” but the catch is always the same: a nonrefundable deposit. After payment, the fake agency stops all communication.

Beyond travel agencies, Masharov said criminals are also targeting families by creating bogus websites for children’s camps and health resorts. His advice: book only through official sites or known organizers, and always call the camp or sanatorium using the number listed on its real website to confirm the offer. He also warned against clicking links sent via messaging apps, sharing passport data or children’s documents with strangers, and falling for social media ads claiming “plans changed—selling cheap” or “transferring to you.” Transfers of tickets or vouchers cannot be done online, Masharov stressed. If you suspect fraud, stop all contact, save your correspondence and any evidence, and report the incident to law enforcement immediately.