Travelers, beware of these dangerous virtual destinations

Think the real world is a dangerous place for travelers? Try visiting the virtual one, a destination filled with shady travel offers and criminals who want to steal your personal information. There are many dangerous virtual destinations out there.

It’s the time of year when people start planning their summer vacations, and with everyone watching the bottom line, the temptation to save a few dollars by booking online is strong. That might include searching the underside of the Internet for a bargain.

Dangerous virtual destination on the dark web

A recent survey by the British security company Comparitech should make you consider carefully where you buy. The research discovered a vibrant market for frequent-flier miles on the “dark Web,” a hidden part of the Internet that requires special software to access. On one site, Comparitech found that you can buy 100,000 points for as little as $884.

“The type of sites most commonly associated with the dark Web are marketplaces where illicit goods such as narcotics, firearms and stolen credit card numbers are bought and sold,” says the report’s author, Paul Bischoff. “The darkest corners are used to hire hit men, engage in human trafficking and exchange child pornography.”