TOURISM SCAM: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

It started with a December daydream - a quick escape to snow-dusted Shimla, sun-kissed beaches in the Maldives or a chic chalet in Switzerland.

- KHUSHBU JAIN

As the days grow shorter and wanderlust grows stronger, the December holiday season draws everyone into the chase for the perfect escape. You picture yourself wrapped in woollen scarves with the Himalayas glistening behind, feeling the ocean breeze on a Goan beach or gliding into the snowy magic of St. Moritz. Everywhere you look, social media drips with influencer trips and friends' flawless memories, making the urge to book and go almost irresistible.

This is peak vacation planning time: everyone is hunting for one last adventure before the year wraps up. The internet is flooded with “exclusive” deals and tempting New Year offers that always seem to vanish if you don’t act right now. But in that headlong rush, excitement can quickly fade into anxiety. Travel scammers are just as active as holiday dreamers, sometimes, they're counting on your excitement most of all.

confirm the booking: it never existed. Your money and your dream are both gone.

One evening, an Instagram post catches your eye: a private Bali villa for half price, with jaw-dropping pictures. You swipe up, fill in your details, pay to lock in the special rate and never hear back from the “agent.” The booking vanishes and the only thing left is regret and missing funds.

You're comparing deals and come across a website that copies a big agency's brand - right down to the logo, colors and layout. You book a “special” package, receive a confirmation email and feel secure. But as your departure nears, phone calls go unanswered and the agency insists there’s no record of your booking.

Googling hotels, you click a top result that looks exactly like Booking.com or Trip. com or others, but the web address is subtly different. The site's offers are irresistible, the layout feels familiar and you pay only to arrive and discover you have no reservation. The site was an impersonator.