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Many victims of the 7Vuelos scam were left waiting for flights that never existed. Credit: wsfurlan from Getty Images Signature
A week in New York, Flights and hotel included, all for the price of €800. 7Vuelos is an online agency that flooded social media in Spain. It was backed by flashy websites, influencer posts, and deals that looked too good to be true. Turns out, it was. Thousands of users are now reporting losses of €1,000 and more just after booking the non-existent trips through the platform. The site disappeared right after that, and the fallout has just begun. FACUA filed a formal complaint, and public outrage has mounted over the role influencers played in promoting this trap.
What was 7Vuelos?
7Vuelos appeared to be a legitimate low-cost travel agency. The deals on the website were bold and even claimed to be certified by the IATA, which is the International Air Transport Association. And the details of the scam that fooled many:
- Users could book deals from New York, Paris, Tokyo, or Dubai at prices well below the market average (often under €1,000).
- The site lacked basic legal information, such as the company’s registered name, VAT ID, and physical address.
- Users also reported that customer service stopped responding the moment they made a payment. No confirmation emails, or bookings cancelled without a refund, even days before departure.
For the platform 7Vuelos to boost its credibility, it relied on paid promotions through influencers, who promoted the site to their massive respective audiences without verifying its legitimacy. By the time victims realised it was a scam. 7Vuelos then proceeded to shut down its site, wipe its social media, and disappear.
The Aftermath
For many victims, they reported losing €600 to €1,200 on trips they never took. Scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their appearance, while platforms struggle to protect users effectively.
This case reveals more than one fake agency; it highlights how consumer protection has not kept pace with the digital landscape. And how easily a scam of this scale can ride the wave of social media, paying influencers to promote the scams to their large audiences, who in turn book and lose their returns and trips.
