News Story Activities for Intermediate to Upper -Intermediate Student

 Holiday swindlers: The rise of digital travel scams

Digital travel scams have become a pervasive and alarming issue on a global scale. A recent case involving Brazilian women highlights the risks associated with booking luxury holidays through social media platforms. Rafael Bessa, posing as a travel agent on Instagram, attracted customers with enticing posts featuring opulent hotels and exotic destinations. However, after paying substantial amounts for their dream vacations, the victims discovered that their bookings were not honored and payments were not made. Despite Bessa's assurances of reimbursement, the victims never received their money back, leaving them frustrated and emotionally scarred.

The rise of digital travel scams has prompted organizations like the UN's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to address the problem. The UNWTO recognizes that social media platforms have become popular avenues for travel agents to entice customers with enticing holiday packages. However, this also creates a false sense of reliability, as tourists perceive such services to be more trustworthy. To combat this issue, the UNWTO has developed a code for the protection of tourists, clarifying the responsibilities of social media companies, governments, and consumers. Several countries have already signed up to the code, incorporating it into their national legislation. Efforts are underway to establish regulations and collaborations between governments and private companies to curb digital travel scams and protect consumers from fraudulent activities.

Vocabulary Exercise: Travel Scams

Instructions: Read the following sentences and choose the correct word or phrase that best completes each sentence. The options are provided in the brackets.

1. Digital travel scams have become a (prevalent / hesitant) issue around the world.
2. Rafael Bessa posed as a travel agent on (Facebook / Instagram) to attract customers.
3. The victims paid large sums for their dream vacations, only to discover that their bookings were (honored / not honored).
4. Despite promises of reimbursement, the victims never received their (money / luggage) back.
5. The UN's World Tourism Organization aims to (address / avoid) the rising problem of digital travel scams.
6. Social media platforms should take (responsibility / resistance) for protecting consumers from fraudulent activities.
7. The UNWTO has developed a code for the (promotion / protection) of tourists.
8. Several countries have signed up to the code, incorporating it into their (national / personal) legislation.
9. Efforts are underway to (amplify / curb) digital travel scams and safeguard consumers.
10. Travelers should be (vigilant / dormant) and cautious when making bookings through social media.

Fill in the Blanks: Travel Scams

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words or phrases from the given options.

Digital travel scams have become a _______ issue globally. Rafael Bessa, posing as a travel agent on _______, attracted customers with enticing posts featuring opulent hotels and exotic destinations. However, after paying substantial amounts for their dream vacations, the victims discovered that their bookings were not _______ and payments were not _______. Despite Bessa's assurances of reimbursement, the victims never received their _______ back, leaving them frustrated and emotionally scarred.

The rise of digital travel scams has prompted organizations like the UN's World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to _______ the problem. The UNWTO recognizes that social media platforms have become popular avenues for travel agents to entice customers with enticing holiday packages. However, this also creates a false sense of reliability, as tourists perceive such services to be more _______. To combat this issue, the UNWTO has developed a _______ for the protection of tourists, clarifying the responsibilities of social media companies, governments, and consumers. Several countries have already signed up to the code, incorporating it into their _______ legislation. Efforts are underway to establish regulations and collaborations between governments and private companies to _______ digital travel scams and protect consumers from fraudulent activities.

Options:

1. prevalent, hesitant
2. Facebook, Instagram
3. honored, not honored
4. money, luggage
5. address, avoid
6. responsibility, resistance
7. promotion, protection
8. national, personal
9. amplify, curb
10. vigilant, dormant

Answers: Part 1

1. prevalent
2. Instagram
3. not honored
4. money
5. address
6. responsibility
7. protection
8. national
9. curb
10. vigilant

Answers: Part 2

1. prevalent
2. Instagram
3. honored
4. money
5. address
6. trustworthy
7. code
8. national
9. curb
10. vigilant

Sources :https://www.bbc.com/news/world-63727404