Are you planning a vacation trip or even a big trip for 2022?
Experts warn of an increase in travel fraud.
More than half (55%) of Americans say they will travel this winter, according to TripAdvisor’s latest Travel Index report. That’s an increase of 50% who traveled this season in 2020 but is still behind the 63% who traveled in 2019.
Because of the pandemic, it could have been almost two years since some people planned a trip. Many are getting on a plane for the first time in a long time.
That means some travelers are likely to be rusty when it comes to travel planning, and those who want to take advantage of this are on their way during this vacation travel season.
“Unfortunately, at times when we are more stressed, especially during the pandemic, there are people who step in immediately every time and take advantage of the benefits,” said Amy Rasor, regional director of the Better Business Bureau in Fort Worth. You feel that gut feeling, it says you pretty much what to do. “
According to the Better Business Bureau, more than $ 720,000 was lost to travel fraud nationwide in 2021, according to the Better Business Bureau, with nearly half (49%) of the losses occurring during the busiest travel season of the year, the May-August summer season .
So here are the red flags to watch out for in the top five most-reported scams, according to BBB:
Apartment con: These scammers use reputable home or apartment rental sites to lure vacationers in with the promise of low fees and great amenities. The “owner” creates a false sense of urgency – for example by telling potential customers that another vacationer is interested in renting out – to receive payment before doing enough research or questioning the legitimacy of the ad. Often the rental does not exist.
“The scammers involved in these situations promise low prices and great amenities,” said Rasor. “And you take advantage of that sense of urgency that someone else might grab it in front of you. We always warn, this sense of urgency when someone urges that it is a red flag to take a step back and take your time. “
“Free” vacation fraud: If a cruise or travel company advertises a vacation as “free”, it does not necessarily mean that the trip is free or restricted. Look out for additional fees for air transportation, port fees, taxes, tips, and other unlisted fees.
Third party booking site scams: If you are booking your airfare, hotel, or other travel through a third-party website, be careful. BBB Scam Tracker continues to receive reports of scammers posing as online airline ticket brokers. The most common type of fraud, travelers pay with a credit card and shortly after paying they receive a phone call from the company asking them to verify their name, address, bank details, or other personal information – something a legitimate company would never do .
Cons of Timeshare Resale: A timeshare owner trying to sell receives a call from someone claiming to be a real estate agent or broker. These scammers claim they specialize in timeshare resale and promise to have buyers ready to buy. In order to secure this service, the scammer pushes the target to pay an upfront fee. The timeshare owner pays, but the reseller never delivers.
Hotel Call Fraud: When staying in a hotel, beware of scammers who use various techniques to obtain credit card information, including fake front desk calls, “free” Wi-Fi connections, and fake food deliveries.
“That actually happened to my father and luckily he knew exactly what to do,” said Rasor. “So you check in, go to your room, and then the room telephone, Desk ‘rings, and you have to check your credit card information that you have on file. Fortunately, when this happened to my father, he said, ‘I’m coming to the front desk.’ “
At the reception of his hotel, her father was told that the call was fake. It shows that everyone can be a target.
This is how you avoid losing money
You can use the BBB Scammer Tracker to look for scams in your area. You can also follow these tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud:
- When booking a trip, make sure it comes from a website with a web link with “https” in the address bar. The “s” stands for safe. A lock icon will also appear in your web browser to confirm that all of the information you have entered is secure.
- Avoid transferring money or using a prepaid debit card.
- Pay for everything with a credit card so you can easily dispute if something happens.
- Call the landlord. Unless you’re using a property and owner verification service, don’t negotiate a rental solely by email. Many scammers do not live on site. Speaking to the owner on the phone and asking detailed questions about the property and local attractions will clarify whether the listing is genuine. An owner with vague answers is a clear red flag.
- Before you make the final payment, get all the details of the trip in writing. The details should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation fees, and the names of the airlines and hotels.
- Read and keep a copy of the airline and hotel’s cancellation and refund policy, and the travel agent’s or booking site’s cancellation policy.
The bottom line is that you should take enough time planning to do the research on anyone you give your money to.
“We certainly live in a different world, we have to make sure we take our time. Book as early as possible,” said Rasor.
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