Travel Tip: Avoiding Scams
Prices for almost everything have soared, thanks in part for the skyrocketing fuel costs. For this reason, travelers have started searching everywhere for discounted airfare or affordable vacation packages in order to stay within their budget. This mad rush to save a few dollars has actually created an opportunity for scam artists to engage in travel scams.
In most cases of travel scam, victims are offered great bargains on resort vacations or even cruises, supposedly available for a limited period only. But the scam artists will not provide you with any detail unless you pay a deposit. After doing what they asked, these unscrupulous individuals simply disappear.
Although most legitimate travel agencies will require you a deposit, they will make sure that all the information you need regarding the vacation package or cheap ticket offers are provided. In order for you to determine whether you are being targeted by these scam artists, here are some tips that you should consider as you evaluate these travel deals.
- Be skeptical about letters, postcards, emails or phone calls that inform you that you were chosen to receive discounts or even a free vacation package.
- If you are interested in availing a particular promo, you should make sure that every detail of the deal or agreement is in writing before making any deposit.
- Stay away from sales presentation that forces you to make a decision right there and then, prohibiting you from carefully going over the details of the travel offer.
- Be cautious about travel agencies that require you to wait for two months before your trip. This “pay now and travel later” is one of the popular scams in the industry.
- If you are worried about being scammed, you can always choose to pay using your credit card. You will enjoy protection under the federal fair credit practice laws.
