Attempts at scamming by e-mail (phishing) or telephone (phone phishing) are used frequently by fraudsters and may take various forms, with the aim of encouraging consumers to divulge personal information. Sadly, this often works, since many consumers are not suspicious enough of calls or e-mails claiming to be from recognized companies. Once this information is in the hands of fraudsters, it can be used in many ways, such as withdrawing money from bank accounts, creating new credit card accounts, or engaging in fraudulent transactions on existing credit card accounts.
Criminals can easily copy or create a fake website that can look like an official one. Others use social media (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, WhatsApp, Twitter and others) to pose as a certified travel agent or an employee of the company and offer discounted travel services.
In either case, their goal is to get people to hand over their money, often by asking the victim to pay by cash or bank transfer. Both types of payment, however, open the potential for fraud and are not among standard Transat procedures. If you wish to pay in cash or by bank transfer, it is preferable that the transaction be conducted directly at the travel agency office.