WITH the Easter holidays only a few weeks away, tourists and accommodation establishment owners have been warned to be extra vigilant and not fall victim to scammers.

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Some common scams include fake accommodation listings on online platforms offering non-existent or unavailable accommodation, and holiday packages that appear legitimate. Others are perpetrated by guests who plan on not paying for accommodation by producing fake proof of payments.

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

“Indeed, some of our members have reported some scamming attempts during this year,” said 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.

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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, said 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,” said Sisilana.

Safety tips for holidaymakers:

• Verify travel bookings by using reputable booking platforms.

• Verify accommodation establishments by contacting Durban Tourism.

• If you suspect a scam, report it to local authorities immediately before making any payments.

• Use reputable exchange bureaux or banks to exchange money or cheques.

• If you require any information, police officers and tourism information officers will gladly assist.

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