Tourists need to be weary of travel scam websites – O’Brien

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Dublin, Deputy Darragh O’Brien has said that tourists need to be weary of scam websites offering accommodation, following reports of tourists being defrauded in today’s media.

“A number of websites are offering bogus accommodation in European destinations, including Dublin. This problem is happening in other European cities too, where tourists are being asked to pay for accommodation and apartments upfront, but arriving to find the properties do not exist or are not available for rent.

“Media reports on the news that scam artists defrauded one group of French tourists in Dublin out of €1400. A group of tourists from Paris booked and paid for a house in Georgian Dublin for eight days around St Patrick’s Day. However, when they showed up the property owner knew nothing about the arrangement. 

“Such scams are becoming ever more sophisticated, but I would urge people to take caution when booking accommodation online, and to use trusted, reputable websites. Dublin has countless world-class attractions and tourism plays an increasingly important role in the city and county’s economy, so it is a matter of deep concern that the tourist offering is at risk of being undermined by this type of scamming.

“The Gardaí should be given every appropriate support to deal with anyone in this country colluding with this sort of fraud,” concluded Deputy O’Brien.
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