With the holiday season approaching, traveling becomes a priority for many families. However, local travel agencies are warning the public about the importance of purchasing travel packages—usually including transportation and accommodation—from reputable companies to avoid scams. They also advise people to be cautious of prices that seem excessively low, as they are often not legitimate.
Idheanna Gómez Ortiz, director of Idhetravel, said that travel agencies in the state are experiencing high demand because today’s travelers seek certainty and, above all, a carefully planned experience.
“Travel agencies that offer professional, personalized assistance have become the number one ally in ensuring a successful trip,” she said.
The specialist explained that travelers should ideally book through agencies that have physical offices.
“Without a doubt, that is the safest option. Unlike isolated online purchases, a package booked through a formal travel agency provides comprehensive support: assistance with changes, personalized service, and the peace of mind of having someone available to resolve any unexpected issues in real time.”
To avoid becoming victims of fraud, she recommended verifying that the company is legally established and, if possible, affiliated with recognized industry associations before making any purchase.
“Be extremely suspicious of offers that seem ‘too good to be true,’ and under no circumstances should you make payments to personal bank accounts. Payments should always be made to the company’s official business account. Security begins with a transparent transaction.”
Gómez Ortiz also emphasized that it is best to work with agencies that have been established for many years and to read genuine reviews from their clients and business partners.
The Most Commonly Cloned Destinations
Georgina Duch Carvallo, from the travel agency Todos a Viajar, agreed that this type of fraud is becoming increasingly common, with Cancún and Playa del Carmen being the destinations most frequently used by scammers as bait.
She explained that the best way to prevent these situations is to visit agencies in person or carefully verify that the website is legitimate, officially registered, and legally established.
Duch Carvallo warned that fraud involving online travel packages is common, so consumers should be extremely careful when making purchases to avoid deceptive advertising. She also encouraged travelers to verify that companies comply with all legal requirements, even if they operate exclusively online or advertise through social media.
“It happens very often with two specific hotels: Xcaret and Nickelodeon in the Riviera Maya,” she warned.
Profeco Issues Consumer Alert
In response to this situation, the Office for Consumer Protection (Odeco) of Mexico’s Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) in Xalapa issued an urgent warning to the public to prevent more people from becoming victims of fraudulent travel agencies and tourism promoters operating online.
Reported losses in the region range from 10,000 to 90,000 Mexican pesos per victim.
The scammers’ typical method is to attract victims through fake social media profiles, where they advertise all-inclusive vacation packages, tickets to major concerts, or round-trip travel deals at prices significantly below the market average.
