With the Easter holidays fast approaching, tourists and accommodation establishment owners are being warned to be extra vigilant and not fall victim to scammers.

South Coast Sun reports that some common scams include fake accommodation listings on online platforms offering non-existent or unavailable accommodation, and holiday packages that appear legitimate. Another scam is that of guests, who produce fake proof of payments.

Sapphire Coast Tourism’s Romy Wenzel says some accommodation establishments around Amanzimtoti have seen criminals try their luck.

“Indeed, some of our members have reported some scamming attempts this year,” says Wenzel.

In the first instance, two men were known to go to different guest houses to try to get free accommodation. They are said to look professional, drive a fancy car and sound convincing.

In another case, a person on Facebook pretended to be working for a popular guest house on Kingsway Road, while his page listed Soweto, Gauteng, as his place of residence. He approached the same guest house claiming he wanted to make a booking for a large group of tourists. The guest house’s owners have since warned other establishments about the person.

EThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, says tourists from Mpumalanga and Gauteng were recently scammed and left stranded.

“Durban Tourism and the central Community Tourism Organisation assisted the victims in opening a criminal case with the police and got them alternative accommodation,” says Sisilana.

Safety tips for holidaymakers:

• Verify travel bookings.
• Use reputable booking platforms.
• Verify accommodation establishments by contacting Durban Tourism.
• If you suspect a scam, report it to local authorities and don’t make any payments.
• Use reputable exchange bureaus or banks to exchange money.
• If you require any information, ask tourism information officers.

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