Travel and hotel booking apps have become an integral part of our lives. With just a few taps on our smartphones, we can book flights and hotels and plan our itineraries for any destination in the world.
However, with convenience comes risk, as many of these apps are responsible for scams that prey on unsuspecting travellers.
Despite the booming hospitality industry in India and the increasing popularity of online bookings, the number of people getting scammed by travel and hotel booking apps is not uncommon.
From fake listings to hidden fees and even identity theft, these scams are leaving travellers out of pocket while ruining their vacation plans.
Hidden charges: Misleading prices and extra fees
Travel and hotel booking apps have become the go-to source for booking travel arrangements. However, users in India have reported hidden charges and misleading prices that ultimately lead to extra fees. This is a common practice among these apps, where they advertise low prices to attract customers but add additional costs during the checkout process.
One of the ways these apps mislead customers is through taxes and service fees that are not included in the initial price. Many users have reported being charged up to 20% more than the original price due to these hidden costs. Additionally, some hotels listed on these apps charge a convenience fee that is not disclosed until after check-in.
Another way travel and hotel booking apps scam people in India is through their cancellation policies. While some offer free cancellations up until a certain date, others will charge exorbitant fees for even minor changes or cancellations. This can leave customers feeling trapped and forced to pay an extra fee just to make a change. Indian travellers need to be aware of these hidden charges when using travel and hotel booking apps. They should read all terms and conditions carefully before making any bookings or payments.
Fake reviews: Structured ratings, paid reviews
Fake reviews have become a prevalent issue in the travel and hotel booking industry, especially in India. Structured ratings, which are often manipulated by businesses to make their services appear better than they actually are, can deceive consumers who rely on them to make informed decisions.
Additionally, paid reviews are another form of deception that is commonly used. Businesses offer incentives or payments to individuals or companies to write positive reviews about their services. These fake reviews can be difficult to identify and may mislead potential customers into choosing subpar accommodations or experiences.
Travel and hotel booking apps are not immune to these scams; they may even facilitate them by featuring biased ratings or promoting businesses that pay for higher visibility. As such, consumers need to remain vigilant when using these platforms and conduct additional research before making any bookings based solely on ratings or reviews.
Unreliable bookings: No guarantees and cancellations
One of the major issues with travel and hotel booking apps in India is unreliable bookings. Users are often lured into making a reservation through these apps, only to find out later that their booking was not confirmed or has been cancelled without any prior notice. This can be extremely frustrating for travellers who have already made plans and arrangements based on their supposed bookings.
The worst part is that there are no guarantees when it comes to these bookings, leaving users at the mercy of these apps. Many users have reported cases where they were charged for their reservations but never received any confirmation or booking details. Some even received fake booking confirmations or were directed to hotels that did not exist.
As a result, many people have lost money as well as valuable time due to these scams. While some travel and hotel booking apps in India do provide refunds, it often takes weeks or even months for users to receive their money back – if they ever get it at all. These unreliable bookings serve as a reminder that travellers must always exercise caution when using such platforms and should consider alternative options before making any reservations through them.
Data privacy breach: User data sold to third parties
One of the most common ways that travel and hotel booking apps scam people in India is by selling their user data to third parties. This data includes personal information such as name, address, phone number, email ID, and financial details like credit card numbers. Once this information falls into the wrong hands, scammers can use it for a variety of fraudulent activities such as identity theft, phishing scams, and credit card fraud.
The issue is further complicated by the users not realising that these data sources and uses could be taking place. In many situations, within a contract that contains many words, and perhaps hidden within a privacy policy, is a disclaimer that would allow these sources to use a user’s data in advertising. This would mean that users aren’t necessarily aware that they may be giving out this information.
In order for users themselves to safeguard against this type of data breach, it is essential that they read the terms and conditions of any service or application they wish to sign up for. Users should also avoid being too free with their personal details as this is an open invitation for scammers to exploit. Users should take the necessary steps to ensure that their privacy is protected rather than allowing profits to override this aspect as well.
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Legal loopholes: Lack of regulations and legal recourse
The absence of regulation and scope for redressal for travel and hotel booking services in India has resulted in the emergence of a multitude of loopholes that are being utilised by many apps. The loopholes enable these firms to cheat people without any ramifications. One of the means by which these firms dupe consumers is by promoting misleading discounted offers that lure people to pay more for a product.
Another way they scam people is by listing hotels or accommodations that do not meet safety standards or are in unsafe areas. Such listings are normally accompanied by fake reviews, making the customer’s task of distinguishing between the safe and unsafe options quite difficult. The outcome is that uninformed customers end up in dangerous locations with no way to claim compensation should an accident occur.
Furthermore, there is no indication of how refunds shall be made in the case of a customer cancelling the booking due to uncontrollable reasons, such as a pandemic or natural calamity. Due to this fact, many companies have refused to give total refunds, at most partial, and thus leaving many customers with a feeling of deception and helplessness. On this note, the absence of regulations and legal redress has translated into widespread scams in the travel and hotel booking industry, necessitating urgent intervention by authorities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, travel and hotel booking apps in India still pose a significant threat to unsuspecting travellers who rely on them. Despite the increased awareness of their fraudulent practices, it is quite evident that they are still able to scam people in many ways. As such, there is a need for both government agencies and private companies to work together in order to identify and shut down these fraudulent apps.
India’s tourism industry serves as a vital economic foundation, which requires every involved party to unite against this destructive force. The tourism sector of India will experience growth because travellers will arrive with peace of mind about their ability to book secure trips. The tourists will experience peace of mind because they can pick travel options with confidence that protects them from deceptive operators pretending to be official travel agents and hotel providers.
