20 Apr 2006

Samoa Hotel Association issues a warning over scam artists

10:09 am on 20 April 2006

A warning has been issued by the Samoa Hotel Association about international scam artists who are targeting the local tourism industry.

A member of the association Nynette Sass, says that SHA has received a lot of scam mails for large accommodation bookings.

She says members have been advised against taking any bookings of this sort.

She says ANZ Bank has adviced that the scams have hit a lot of people.

The email asks for group hotel bookings for certain dates and asks for bank account information for funds, and promises a commission.

The email purportedly originates from the Ivory Coast.

The scam operators appears to be hitting car rental companies also.