How many traps are hidden in "travel scams" such as being deceived and involved in pornography?
In today's fast-paced world, organizing a tourism bureau is a major challenge that troubles many people. With the rise of the social form of "finding partners", it has become easier for young people to complete a trip with like-minded partners.
The Mid Autumn Festival and National Day holidays are approaching, and people planning to travel are looking for "travel opportunities" on social media platforms for safety and cost reduction considerations, hoping to find strangers who resonate with the same frequency to travel together.
A survey conducted by China News Network found that many netizens and "travel partners" have indeed enjoyed a pleasant travel experience. However, under this beautiful vision of "friendship and a sense of boundaries", there are also new scams and risks hidden.
I am looking for travel options online,
Loss of 3000 "
In early September, Zhang Yue, a travel enthusiast from Chongqing, posted a post on social media looking for a "travel companion" to travel to Xinjiang together recently. She said in an interview with China News Service that after the post was posted, many people quickly sent her private messages, expressing their willingness to travel together.
One of the girls, Xiao A, told Zhang Yue that she and her friends were also planning to travel to Xinjiang, but they were "stood up" by two other companions. She had been to Xinjiang many times and renting a car and booking accommodation together was also relatively cost-effective. She could be responsible for making a guide. After getting to know each other, Zhang Yue decided to travel with friends, Little A, and Little A's friends as a group of four.
But what puzzled Zhang Yue was that she sought out many group resources, but Xiao A refused for various reasons, stating that she was familiar with them and could be responsible for booking itineraries and hotels. Later, Xiao A said that it was not easy to book a room during the peak tourist season, and she had acquaintances who could book it, but they needed a deposit of 1500 yuan per person. Without much thought, Zhang Yue transferred 3000 yuan to her as a deposit for herself and her friends.
Zhang Yue transferred a accommodation deposit of 3000 yuan to Xiao A
"Later on, I saw online that many of these were childcare, so I invited us over first and then found an excuse not to go. We handed over our business to the local fleet... Thinking that she had not booked her own plane ticket, I asked her to provide proof of booking a hotel. She kept saying that I trusted her, but she refused." Zhang Yue said, "Finally, she said that some were made with the help of friends, while others were made verbally. She sent me two transfer records, showing a total transfer of 2000+860 yuan. Even if it was true, each of the four people shared the cost only 720 yuan, and there was no other proof."
Zhang Yue said that she suspected she had been cheated and wanted to get a refund, but Xiao A insisted that the money had been used up and she had advanced a lot of money, so it was impossible to get a refund. As of September 20th, Zhang Yue has still not been able to retrieve the 3000 yuan. She clicked on Little A's homepage and found that on the 18th, Little A was still continuously posting in search of "travel opportunities". On the afternoon of the 19th, Little A posted again asking for "shared rooms", claiming "luxurious accommodation, 600 per person".
Xiao A is still continuously posting in search of "travel partners"
"This is my first time looking for a 'travel partner', and it's also the only time." Zhang Yue sighed, "In the future, I will still choose to apply for a group through legitimate channels. At least if there are any problems, I can still find after-sales service.".
The code for "all inclusive costs",
Just for the sake of "having fun"?
In addition to being scammed out of money, there are also some young people who are looking for "travel opportunities". They don't wait for their companions, but instead wait for information about blind dates, friends, and even "sexual harassment" under the guise of traveling.
Recently, the topic of "a certain platform's travel companion being accused of being involved in pornography" has attracted attention. According to reports, some netizens have found that "travel expenses are all inclusive" is becoming a secret phrase. Under the title of such posts, it is usually noted that "only for girls, take what you need." In response, the platform stated that it has conducted a comprehensive review of the notes related to "travel posts" on the site. Once any violations are found, they will be dealt with seriously.
However, according to a survey conducted by China News Network, there are still some posts and comments that involve relevant code words. A note released in mid September shows that the publisher plans to travel to western Sichuan for a few days, recruiting female partners and covering all expenses. Another post released on September 20th stated, "Find a travel option, first class, five-star hotel, all inclusive of food and accommodation."
Some people even included their age, height, and other self introductions, as well as their requirements for the woman's age and personality, in posts claiming to be "fully inclusive of travel expenses.". In another post that normally searches for "travel partners", there are also multiple comments in the comment section saying "find a female partner, all costs are included" and "if you can go to xx, all costs are included and paid".
After the topic of "tourism outfits being accused of engaging in pornography" attracted attention, there are still related posts and comments
China News Network contacted several of them via private message, and one user asked "Green or non green?" It is reported that "non green" refers to transactions involving pornography. Another user bluntly stated, "I'm interested if it's not green." Another user replied, "How could a woman spend money?" When asked if there's anything he needs, he said, "There's nothing he needs, just to be happy."
Lawyer's reminder:
"Tazi" social interaction carries risks and needs to be treated with caution
In addition to the above routines, there are also many people sharing roast about "travel travel" on the social platform. Some people parted ways due to different habits and beliefs, while others were stood up on the day of departure, and there were occasional disputes and financial disputes.
There is also an unavoidable question: how can we ensure the safety of the travel route and the personal safety of travelers when "travel companions" are all strangers?
Xia Hailong, a lawyer from Shanghai Shenlun Law Firm, stated in an interview with China News Service that some "travel platform" recruitment posts may belong to implicit marketing tactics of some businesses. Netizens should pay attention to identifying whether the other party belongs to a legitimate tourism enterprise during the communication process, and not fall into consumption traps by blindly believing advertisements. In addition, it is not ruled out that some users may use the gimmick of "travel scams" to lure netizens into engaging in unethical or even illegal behavior. Netizens should be cautious about socializing with strangers in reality, and first ensure personal and property safety.
Lawyer Ding Jinkun from Shanghai Dabang Law Firm told China News Agency that in practice, if the travel period is long and the cost is high, both parties can sign a simple cooperative travel contract, which stipulates division of labor and cooperation, cost sharing, privacy protection, and exit mechanism. "This type of contract does not necessarily require formal signature from both parties. After consultation and confirmation on WeChat, it also has contractual validity."
Xia Hailong reminds that if you want to participate in "travel activities" organized by strangers, it is important to understand their true identity before traveling, try not to go to remote or unfamiliar places, and inform family and friends of travel information. It is best to purchase insurance and agree on consumption sharing and other matters with the other party before traveling to avoid unnecessary disputes.
"In case of being deceived or other accidents, one should report to the police or file a complaint with the platform as soon as possible, and keep relevant websites, communication records, and other evidence. The information publisher should bear responsibility. If the platform does not review the content of the post strictly, they should also bear certain responsibilities." Xia Hailong said.
