Honest caveat: ‘private message’ clearance flight ticket scams are real and increasingly sophisticated — scammers contact via Line/Facebook with screenshots of legitimate airline promo, then redirect payment to fraudulent escrow accounts. The ‘are clearance tickets all scams?’ framing is hyperbolic; most clearance fares advertised by major airlines / OTAs are legitimate. Real scam pattern: unsolicited private messages with ‘exclusive’ deals, payment requests to personal accounts, refusal to use airline-direct booking flow.
The clearance ticket scam I almost fell for in 2024: I’d received a Line message: ‘EVA Air clearance — Taipei-Tokyo NT$8,400, only 6 seats left, transfer NT$2,400 deposit to confirm.’ The message included a real-looking screenshot, used my full name (correctly), and provided a ‘booking confirmation number.’ What I missed: legitimate airline promotions ARE NEVER conducted via private message; they’re public on the airline website. The ‘name + booking number’ in the message reflected my Facebook profile + a fabricated reference. I’d nearly transferred NT$2,400. The fix the framework here teaches: any flight ‘clearance’ deal that comes via private message + asks for personal-account payment = scam. Verify via airline’s official website only.
🌐 English Version — ｜ English translation of our original Chinese review.
📬 Insider Flight Deals Newsletter — Subscribe Free, One Email Only, No Resends →
Hello everyone, this is Rational Travel, a food and travel enthusiast who has visited over 10 countries. Over the past five years, I’ve shared tidbits about Tokyo ramen and Seoul spicy stir-fried rice cakes, with daily clicks approaching 10,000. Rational Travel recently noticed “clearance tickets” and “clearance cruises” all over the internet and social media, with prices so low they feel like “this must be a scam,” right? I did some research, and in 2025, fraud cases have skyrocketed globally (not just in Taiwan), with shopping fraud especially rampant. So I compiled a clearance ticket guide covering everything from the truth about clearance tickets to 4 anti-fraud tips, combining my hands-on experience, X platform feedback (June 20–25, 2025), and travel platform data to help you tell the real from the fake. #ClearanceTickets #TravelFraud #RationalTravel
As usual, before I start the article, Rational Travel will introduce myself first, after all, not everyone knows who I am.
Subscribe to Rational Travel and put the guide in your pocket
Rational Travel’s honest thoughts: Flight tickets and other money-saving tips are usually sent to subscribers first, and I’ll publish them publicly after some time, so that subscribers can grab them first. After all, many have time limits and quantity restrictions, so of course they should be offered to subscribers first.
If you’re used to buying and selling miles or snagging expired hotels on Facebook groups, recently I created the ‘Easyticket Network’ with platform escrow, pay after use, which is now free for subscribers to use.
P.S. Subscribers will not only get the complete guides but also enjoy lifetime commission-free privileges on Easyticket Network.It’s currently free, who knows when I’ll start charging, so you know what I mean. Current subscriber count is nearly 2000 people (throwing confetti happily).
✈️ Flight Price Comparison
Real-Time Search — Find the Cheapest Flights
Compare before you book — same flight, different price. Check now.
Why be careful with clearance tickets
Clearance tickets and clearance cruises sound like amazing deals, but fraud cases have surged post-pandemic. According to Taiwan’s Criminal Investigation Bureau (June 2025), online shopping fraud accounts for 30% of fraud cases, with travel-related fraud growing 25%. Clearance tickets are normally how airlines or travel agencies clear remaining inventory, but scam groups are taking advantage, spreading fake tickets and private message ordering scams. Want to grab a bargain without being scammed? Save this lazy guide.
My take. I almost fell for a “Hong Kong business class round-trip NT$10,000” clearance ticket on FB, and the person asked me to transfer money after DMing. It looked like a legitimate travel agency. But when I checked later, I found it was a scam page. Glad I was smart enough… Now when I see super cheap tickets I pause for three seconds, haha.
Important reminder: Stop, look and listen for clearance tickets
- Official channels. Only buy tickets through airline official websites (like EVA Air, China Airlines) or large platforms (Klook, Trip.com), avoid FB and IG private messages.
- Identity verification. Check if travel agencies have Tour Quality Assurance Association certification (like Lion Travel, Coles), call to confirm ticket source authenticity.
- Price awareness. Clearance tickets 20–30% below original price is reasonable; absurdly low prices (like Tokyo round-trip NT$5,000) are mostly scams.
- Proof confirmation. After buying, you must get an airline booking reference number (PNR), immediately check booking status on the official website.
Quick summary: understand clearance tickets real or fake in one second
Question: What are clearance tickets and clearance cruises?
- Airlines or travel agencies clearing remaining inventory, sources include:
- Unpopular times/weekday flights not selling out
- Travel agency charter positions not fully sold
- Vacant seats from passenger cancellations
- Flight-plus-hotel package clearance
Question: How to buy clearance tickets? How to tell if it’s fraud?
- Choose official or large platforms (airline, Klook).
- Verify travel agency identity (quality assurance association, business registration).
- Be alert to suspiciously low prices (50% below market price is suspicious).
- Get the booking reference number and verify on official website.
Question: How to avoid travel fraud? How to buy clearance tickets with peace of mind?
- Save money: Low season (March–May, October–November) or last-minute tickets have more genuine discounts.
- Safety: Pay with credit card, dispute fraudulent charges if needed.
- Tested: I bought a clearance ticket on Kkday, saved 40% super great XD.
Data sources
- Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau: https://www.cib.gov.tw
- Tour Quality Assurance Association: https://www.travel.org.tw
- Klook, Tripadvisor, Trip.com, verified in June 2025
- X platform traveler feedback, June 20–25, 2025
If you like instant deals and food and travel related news, Rational Travel shares them on IG stories so followers can grab them first XD. Since following is free, why not come along!
📖 延伸閱讀：
Worth stating clearly: I’m not a certified financial advisor, insurance expert, or airline industry insider. I’m a traveler who researches carefully and shares what I find. For decisions with significant money or safety implications, verify with primary sources.
🗺️ FREE TRIP PLANNING TOOLStop Opening 14 Tabs — Plan Everything in One Place
Compare flights, hotels & activities in real time — built by travelers, for rational planners.
👉 Try the Trip Planner →USD $37 — Get it →📘 RATIONAL TRAVELER GUIDE
The Asia Flight Blueprint
Booking window · Airline matrix · EU261 rights · 5 modules + 3 bonuses.
Apply — USD $97 →🎯 1:1 ASIA TRIP STRATEGY SESSION
Custom Flight Plan Built For Your Exact Trip
45-min call · Airline picks · Booking timing · Passenger rights · Written plan after. Application-based, 3 spots/week.
✈️ FLIGHT BOOKING TOOL
The Asia Flight Timing Cheat Sheet 2026
10 routes · exact booking windows · peak season calendar · cheapest months per route. USD $5.
⚠️ Who shouldn’t engage with private-message flight deals
1. Anyone receiving unsolicited deal messages on Line / WhatsApp / Facebook. Legitimate airlines don’t cold-message strangers with deals. Engagement with these messages = scam target.
2. Travelers without confirmed familiarity with major OTA platforms (Trip.com, Skyscanner, Google Flights). If you can’t independently verify a quoted fare on these platforms, don’t trust the unsolicited message. Verify or skip.
3. Older or less-tech-savvy travelers. Scammers preferentially target these demographics. Better fit: have family member verify ANY deal before transferring money.
📬 RATIONAL TRAVELER NEWSLETTER
Worried about flight scams?
Subscribe and get the Flight Booking Scam Awareness Pack — 5 most common 2026 flight scam patterns, verification flowchart (when a ‘deal’ is real vs. when it’s scam), legitimate airline / OTA verification checklist, and the recovery procedure if you’ve been scammed.
👉 Subscribe FreeBooking now? Trip.com flight aggregator for cross-checking.
✈️ Get Weekly Flight & Travel Insights
Join readers who get the smartest flight deals, hotel picks, and insider travel tips — every week, straight to your inbox. No spam, ever.