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As summer approaches in the rearview mirror, thoughts turn to sunny days and the chance to get away from it all.
No doubt people hit the road once winter cools down. Scammers know this too and are ready to take advantage, especially during spring break and summer travel.
Last year, consumers reported more than $565,000 in travel-related scams to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) fraud tracker. Travel-related fraud accounted for nearly $80 million in losses in the first three quarters of 2022.
The scammers often target people looking for good travel deals online by offering attractive packages at very good and genuine prices.
A Troy, Missouri woman reported losing $1,100 to a scammer to the BBB. Fraud tracker In December 2022. She believed I was working with a national travel agency and was told they do not accept debit or credit cards. Instead, the woman was asked to pay through an electronic peer-to-peer payment method. After sending the money through the app, the woman said she went back online to find the list she answered and it was no longer available.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid scams on your vacation in the sun:
- Avoid extensive internet searches. Entering phrases like “best deal” for your destination city can sometimes bring up websites that look official but are designed to rip people off.
- Alert for travel scams. Be wary of unsolicited phone calls, texts, emails, or letters claiming to have won a “free trip.” It’s easy to extend questionable offers like these, but many leave travelers frustrated and subject to multiple different fees.
- Get the details in writing. Before making the final payment for the trip, get all the details in writing. This should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation penalties and names of airlines and hotels. Review and save a copy of the airline’s and hotel’s cancellation policies, as well as the policies of the travel agent or reservation used.
- Consider travel insurance. These policies cover things like trip cancellations or medical emergencies. There are different levels of coverage depending on what plan is purchased. Ask questions and read the fine print to see what is and isn’t covered.
- Pay by credit card. Paying by credit card provides additional protection if something goes wrong with your travel booking.
- Turn to BBB. It is one place to find reputable travel agencies, agencies and websites. bbb.org.
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