Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Tourists are falling victim to a growing scam in which fake online travel agencies sell nonexistent snorkeling, diving, and boat tour packages in the Riviera Maya, according to a local tourism cooperative leader.
José Gómez Burgos, president of the Mar Caribe Tourism Cooperative in Playa del Carmen, said that one to two tourists per week arrive at the destination with reservations purchased online, only to find that the company and the seller do not exist.
Victims report having paid deposits of up to 50% of the package price for services such as scuba diving, snorkeling, boat rides, and reef tours. When they try to verify their booking, they discover the business has no physical presence, no registered vessels, and no legitimate contact information.
Gómez Burgos said the scammers operate behind digital platforms, posing as tour operators and promising marine excursions. He described the situation as damaging to the image of the Riviera Maya, a top tourist destination.
To combat the fraud, the cooperative is updating its website and developing a mobile app that will list registered vessels and allow tourists to make verified reservations directly. The cooperative also plans to install a computer system to manage bookings securely.
“We prefer to sell packages directly and in person to avoid these scams,” Gómez Burgos said. “When tourists show up thinking they’ve already paid, it’s a huge disappointment that hurts the destination.”
He noted that the fraud adds to other challenges facing the region, including sargassum seaweed blooms and security concerns, which have already reduced tourism revenue.
