AirAsia Philippines has warned the public to be cautious of dubious social media pages that are promoting inexpensive domestic and international airfares along with hotel bookings, tours, and other optional activities.
AirAsia management said there are several reports about questionable Facebook pages that have emerged, using AirAsia's brand name, which is causing concern for travelers.
Oftentimes, individuals who have been targeted by online scams and were attracted to extremely cheap offers find themselves with counterfeit reservations that cannot be retrieved when going through the check-in process.
One person who fell victim to the scheme reported being lured by a P1,999 all-in deal which eventually was a scam after the alleged agent went offline after their transaction.
Another victim said the offering “seemed legit” because of the testimonies or positive reviews from previous customers.
"While social media pages and communities serve as an information-sharing platform for travelers, we strongly recommend visiting only AirAsia's legitimate social media platforms such as Fly AirAsia where information on flight schedules and promos are posted. While we sincerely empathize with those victimized by scammers, we only honor transactions made through authorized AirAsia travel agent partners or via www.airasia.com and airasia move," AirAsia Head of Communications and Public Affairs Steve Dailisan said.
Recent statistics from the Asia Scam Report reveal that 24.8 percent of Filipinos respond too quickly to scammers' demands, while 21.1 percent choose to take a risk despite uncertainties about the online offering.
There are also individuals who falsely claim to be trustworthy travel agents representing the airline, while others create fake social media accounts with harmful content that entices users to click on malicious links, potentially leading to hacking incidents.
"Think twice before closing an online transaction. Transact only from verified profiles and brand accounts. Double check with other legit online sources and always have reservations if the offer is too good to be true," Dailisan warned.
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