“How to Protect Yourself from Common Travel Scams”

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Understanding Travel Scams: Protect Yourself and Your Finances

Travel scams are deceptive schemes where criminals pose as travel companies to steal money or personal information. These scams can take various forms, such as fake sweepstakes or fraudulent vacation rentals. For instance, you might receive a call claiming you’ve won an all-expenses-paid trip to Dubai, but you’ll need to wire money for a booking fee. Once the money is sent, it vanishes, and your dream vacation never materializes.

Recognizing Red Flags

One of the most obvious signs of a travel scam is an offer that seems too good to be true. For example, you might get an email announcing you’ve won a fantastic trip, even though you never entered any contest. Or you might find a vacation rental at an unbelievably low price. These are common scams designed to extract money or personal information from you.

Scammers often request payment through hard-to-trace methods like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Treat any such payment requests as major red flags and avoid making any payments.

Pause Before You Act

Scammers use pressure tactics to rush you into making decisions. For example, they might tell you that you’ve won a free cruise but need to pay the booking fee immediately to secure your spot. Their goal is to prevent you from thinking it through. If you feel pressured, it’s likely a scam. Hang up the phone or ignore the message.

Use a Credit Card for Bookings

Booking travel with a credit card offers better protection than other payment methods. Federal law limits your liability for unauthorized purchases to $50, and many credit cards offer $0 liability for fraudulent transactions. Additionally, travel credit cards often come with perks like no foreign transaction fees, travel insurance, and access to airport lounges.

Consider applying for a travel credit card that allows you to earn points or miles, which can help reduce the cost of future trips. Some cards offer introductory bonuses that can be beneficial when booking large trips.

Book Through Reputable Sites

To avoid fake travel booking scams, always book through reputable websites. Scammers often create lookalike sites to steal your information. Verify the company’s URL using a search engine and ensure the site is legitimate before making any bookings.

Work With a Travel Advisor

A travel advisor can help you book your trip safely and securely. They handle all the details, from flights to hotel reservations, ensuring everything is legitimate. Travel advisors can also offer reduced rates through group discounts. To find a certified travel advisor, use the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) network.

The Bottom Line

Travel scams can ruin your vacation plans, but being aware of the signs and taking precautions can help you avoid them. If you suspect you’ve been scammed, you can place a fraud alert on your credit report through the Experian Fraud Alert Center and report the fraud to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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