Online Scams in Flores

Online Komodo Tour Booking Fraud

Fraudulent travel agents operating through professional-looking websites, Facebook pages, and WhatsApp numbers collect full payment for Komodo National Park tours, then fail to pay boat owners or operators, leaving tourists stranded at Labuan Bajo Marina with no boat and no refund. In a documented 2025 case, 20 tourists including 13 US nationals transferred approximately USD 6,300 to an unregistered agent (Gratio Tour), only to find the boat owner refused departure as no funds had been received — and then demanded an additional payment. Indonesia's Association of Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) and the Ministry of Tourism have issued formal warnings about this specific fraud pattern.