How do I know if a travel site is legit?

When selecting travel sites, caution becomes paramount since, as the number of options grows, so do the chances of encountering scams and fraud disguised as OTAs. While there is no specific data, many travellers unfortunately fall victim to these online traps and lose their hard-earned money. That is why taking the time to verify the legitimacy of a travel site before making payment is a crucial step. The upcoming sections will elucidate the things you can review to check the legitimacy of a travel site, and help you find the best OTA.

Aspects to look at to check the authenticity of a travel website

A close look at a website can reveal much about its authenticity and credibility. Scammers try to make their website appear as real as possible, but they can not copy the professionalism and factors that validate an original's legitimacy. Therefore, below are the things you should be reviewing to find a reliable and credible travel website:

• Reputation: A higher rating or good review indicates that the travel website is trustworthy and reliable and can successfully deliver its services to travellers. If the customers are satisfied, they tend to leave a good rating and review, which indicates not only the travel sites' commitment to delivering the best experience, but also that they are real.
• Certification: Travel websites must have an IATA certification. This certification represents that the travel agency meets the criteria set by the air transport industry and can offer travellers a safe and high-quality experience. It is also a global benchmark that showcases the credibility and legitimacy of a travel website and differentiates it from fake ones.
• Verify Contact Information: You can also verify the contact information by checking the agency's physical address on the map or its official phone number and email address. Fake websites generally do not offer contact information; even if they do, representatives lack professionalism, which is a bad sign.
• Examine the URL: Carefully review the URL of the website, as fake websites often alter the domain names by using different letters with an exact resemblance to attract users into thinking they are legit. Only make travel purchases through websites using 'https://', which has a padlock icon in the address bar, showing that the website is encrypted and has a secure connection.
• Overall interface: A website's overall interface can tell you a lot about its legitimacy, as fraudulent websites generally have poor designs, grammatical or spelling errors, a lack of contact information, and policies. Therefore, consider making travel purchases through a highly intuitive and user-friendly website, which shows the agency's efforts in designing its website.

Conclusion

Scams related to OTAs are increasing relatively, as fraudsters tend to create fake websites that exactly resemble real ones. However, an experienced traveller can easily distinguish between a fake and a legitimate travel website, although beginners might fall into their traps. Therefore, by understanding the factors mentioned in the sections above, travelers can not only find the right travel website but also easily spot a fake one and steer away from it when making travel purchases.