Website advice regarding SCAMS
Update - July 2010
Please be aware of unsolicited emails from potential customers alleging to represent NITB when wanting to book accommodation. The following names have been used in email scams recently:
• Alex Wood
• Anthony Looker
• Celtus Williams
• Francis Kenneth
• Jim Roger
• Matthew Smith
• Peter Oneal
• Robert Ken
Please note that this list of names is not exhaustive and it is NITB policy not to make accommodation reservations via email without speaking to the accommodation providers directly in advance.
CASHBACK MONEY TRANSFER FRAUD – TOURIST ACCOMMODATION
September 2009
A number of tourist accommodation providers have contacted the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) regarding what appears to be booking scams.
The following information is designed to help make you aware of what form these scams may take, as they can often follow a similar pattern, and to encourage you to remain alert.
• A booking enquiry is made (usually by email). Examples of the queries include:
• Reservations for priests coming for an event
• 2 couples from Russia on honeymoon
• The accommodation provider replies to the booking enquiry with details regarding availability and costs etc. In most cases the booking is being arranged by a friend who will request further information from you such as address and phone numbers. Even if you send notification that the booking is not suitable, you may still receive an email advising that the terms are acceptable.
• The booking is then confirmed by the initial requestor and details of how the payment will be made (usually by credit card or travellers cheques). The payment is usually for a greater amount than the actual cost with the accommodation provider being asked to cash the travellers cheques/accept the credit card payment and to send the balance to another person such as a booking agent, translator, etc, whose details are provided.
• If you proceed, you usually find that the original payment is not honoured by your own bank as the credit card/travellers cheques are fake. Whilst a stolen cheque or bankers draft can be recalled by the bank, even after the funds have gone through the clearing cycle and are showing on your account, any money transferred by you cannot be recalled once sent.
This type of scam is common for all sectors, not just accommodation. Scams continue to circulate using different emails, details and names but following the same format.
For more information, you can simply type the words “cashback money transfer scam” into your internet search engine.