CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The use of online services or software with Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them has become paramount in the society we live in today. A very common form of online fraud is the distribution of rogue security software. Internet services can be used to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme. Hospitality online transaction is not left out. Presently most hotels, resorts and tourism centers engaged in online transaction/payment such as room reservation and other services. Online fraud can occur in during the cause of reservation transaction. Online fraud could result from chat rooms, email, message boards, or on websites.

Hospitality reservation online fraud could occur in two ways. The first is when a criminal approaches the hotel management for online reservation and proposes a business transaction, and then uses fraudulent means to pay for it, using such as a stolen or fake credit card. As a result, the hotel management do not get paid for the transaction. The hotel who accepts credit cards may receive achargeback for the transaction and lose money as a result.

Secondly, the most common fraud is taken place using credit cards this is when the account numbers and pin numbers are obtained by malicious people (hotel staff) when a transaction is done and they use this information to withdraw money from the guest’s. , e.g.: a person named Kushela does a transaction using a credit card with hotel staff. During this transaction people (hotel staff) may steal this guest’s identity and act as him and request payment to an offshore account with an excuse that isn't verified to be true and just an excuse to steal the said credit card.

Therefore, the impact of online fraud committed in the course of reservation in the hospitality industry has resulted to loss of trust, for both hoteliers and guests for each other.  

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Online bookings for reservation in the Hospitality Industry are paramount. Hence, the increase of online fraud in course of reservation bookings online. Criminal activity involving the perpetration of a fraud through the use of the computer or the internet can take many different forms. One common form includes “hacking,” in which a perpetrator uses sophisticated technological tools to remotely access a secure computer or internet location. A second common criminal activity involves illegally intercepting an electronic transmission not intended for the interceptor. This may result in the interception of private information such as passwords, credit card information, or other types of so-called identity theft.

The impact of online fraud on the Hospitality Industry has resulted to fear, distrust, loss of profit in business, bankruptancy etc.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This project work is aimed at studying the impact of online fraud committed in the cause of reservation in the Hospitality Industry with special reference to Mirage Hotel Enugu. Therefore, the objectives are as follows;

1. To find out whether online fraud has been committed in the cause of reservation in Mirage Hotel Enugu.    

2. To determine various ways online fraud are perpetrated in the hospitality Industry

3. To examine the impact of online fraud in the Hospitality Industry.

4. To suggest ways of prevention of online fraud in the Hospitality Industry.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Has online fraud been committed in the cause of reservation in Mirage Hotel Enugu?   

2. What are the various ways online fraud are perpetrated in the hospitality Industry?

3. What impact does online fraud has in the Hospitality Industry.

4. What are the ways of prevention of online fraud in the Hospitality Industry?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Online fraud has made it for people not to trust one another in business transaction. Therefore, the study will help to reveal techniques and methods to be applied to solve and prevent the problems of online fraud especially in the Hospitality Industry.

Also this work will be of benefit to students of Hospitality Management because it will serve as a secondary material for those who intend to carryout similar research.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This project is concentrated on the impact of online fraud committed in the cause of reservation in the Hospitality Industry. Its scope is limited to Mirage Hotel Enugu.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

In cause of writing this project the researcher encountered some difficulties which serve as limitation to the study. The limitations include inadequate fund, lack of response, inadequate time frame and difficulties in searching for research materials.