Scam?

maggiesoup1

I booked a room to go to Apartamentos Dunas Club in Fuerteventura for November through Booking.com for 630 euros a week.

Out of curiosity I looked at the hotel's website directly and noticed there's a like icon called "unlock private offers" so I sent my email and asked for a good rate for the same week. I got a reply from someone called "Marco TripExplorer Personal Assistant for your booking in Fuerteventura" who offered a room at 450 euros (same room but without sea view). He's asking for 10% now and full rate 20 days before we arrive and he's only got a What's App phone number.

My query is, can I trust this guy? Should I phone the hotel directly and ask if he works for them? Why would the hotel have the "unlock private offers" icon on their official web page rather than just offer their best offers online.


Any advice would be very helpful.

Thanks.

richardw

Can you pay with your credit card?

maggiesoup1

Yes. I realise you have some security using a credit card but I'm more concerned that I'll turn up and there will be no room waiting for me.

hollie.weimeraner

I would ring the hotel direct or see if you can find an email address if they have a website.

maggiesoup1

Not happy with his email address.... "Marco@infobooking.com"

I Googled infobooking.com and it says the Doman is for Sale..... not sending any credit card details, will just reserve with trusted websites I've used before. It's not worth saving a few quid to perhaps turn up and find there's no room and credit card hacked!

NoodleDoodleMan

How is he asking for the deposit to be made ?

Sounds very dodgy to me.

I Googled and this came up - any connection or relevance ?

https://www.marcobot.io/

I would contact Apartamentos Dunas Club soonest - they can confirm or refute this, and they will certainly not want their business to be used as a cover for a scam artist.

maggiesoup1

Mmmm sounds like could be same person and yes he's asking for 10% and full payment 20 days in advance of the holiday.

Also, call me old fashioned, but I don't think a hotel would deal with someone who says "show the guys at reception my confirmation reference"

I've just emailed him to cancel the whole deal and have now found an email for the hotel so will flag it up to them too.

Blimey, just trying to book a week in the sun can be so stressful! I guess there truly is no such thing as a free tapa !!!!

Westin

Was this the hotel's website that you went to?

http://www.hoteldunasclub.es/EN/home.html


I could not see an "unlock private offers" button.

maggiesoup1

No, I just Googled the hotel's name and it came up with:

https://www.dunasclub-fuerteventura.com/en/

where you can see the link.

jackieblack

maggiesoup1 wrote: »

No, I just Googled the hotel's name and it came up with:

https://www.dunasclub-fuerteventura.com/en/

where you can see the link.

And if you scroll to the bottom of the page you can see
"- Apartamentos Dunas Club -
Disclaimer: This is not an official website. This site offers the property's information and telephone number, as well as online Booking service."

Westin

maggiesoup1 wrote: »

No, I just Googled the hotel's name and it came up with:

https://www.dunasclub-fuerteventura.com/en/

where you can see the link.

Be very careful just using a search engine and clicking through on the first links displayed.

The URL has been registered for some time via Go Daddy. Seems however to have been set up in Buenos Aires. No company name that I could easily find but Organisation Registrant shows as "Sofia Project". Currently running via a French IP address.

Might be OK, might be a group of private apartment owners advertising via this site but personally I think I would avoid and pay a little more and either stay with that booking.com reservation, or use the hotel's official website.