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Travel scams are becoming increasingly popular and criminals are seeking excited vacationers to take advantage of and take their hard earned precious money. Three types of travel scams to look out for:
- Free Holiday Awards: a common scam that often results in the “You’ve won a free vacation” scratch-off trick. There are a variety of angles, but typically the scam results in either having to pay a processing fee or attending a tedious presentation about timeshares or high priced vacation add-ons with persuasive sales strategies. Solution: nearly every scratch-off is a winner so trash them like an email stating you won the lottery.
- Paying for Paper Tickets: when you book a vacation online, you usually have the option of selecting an “e-ticket” or having a paper ticket mailed for a small fee, but some dishonest travel agents are charging up to four times the amount. Solution: Do not take paper and if you need to make sure you know the fee upfront and if the fee is high take your business somewhere else.
- Phony Travel Guides: at famous venues, a local resident may pose as agents for official guides and take your money and tell you to wait in particular area where the guide never shows. Solution: research guidebooks and online sites that tell you the official, paid tours.
When traveling it is essential to be on the lookout for potential scams and make sure to always be wary of anything deemed as free offers, because nine times out of ten there is a catch and may be a scam.
