As summer approaches, travelers prepare for their trips both domestically and abroad. As you prepare to go on vacation, scammers are preparing to find ever more creative ways to scam you. hard earned money.
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To help you conserve your vacation money and have the best time on your tripexperts explain the scams to watch out for when buying plane tickets, booking accommodation or any other travel-related expense.
Beware of what is too good to be true
Scams most often come through an email or phone call, social media posts or messages, according to Darius Kingsley, managing director and head of consumer banking practice at Hunting Bank. “Fraudsters often attempt to capture information about consumers without their knowledge through travel deals that are too good to be true,” he said.
So if something seems suspicious, or too good to be true, take a moment to think and consider its legitimacy. Trust your instincts.
“Rather than jumping into an unexpected and seemingly shady email, call, or social media message, immediately cut off potential scammers by pressing delete, not opening links, hanging up, or simply leaving them alone. ignorant,” he said.
If you're still curious about the validity of an offer, search for the source's website or phone number and review the information directly. Stay vigilant of unsolicited offers or opportunities, he urged.
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Book via trusted sites
For an added level of protection, consumers should consider booking their travel through trusted sites, like airlines, hotels and even their bank, Kingsley said.
For example, Chase customers can book travel and enjoy rewards online and in the mobile app, he said.
Check accommodation
One of the most disturbing travel scams is travelers being cheated out of their vacation rentals, Kingsley said. There's nothing like an exhausting day of traveling only to discover you have nowhere to stay and are short on money.
“In some cases, fraudsters pose as rental hosts and take a reservation for a property that does not exist. In other cases, fraudsters have attempted to force consumers to cancel their reservations and lose their money,” Kingsley explained.
He added that it's important to be extra careful when booking rental homes for your trip and to know how to spot a scam.
“Fraudsters attempt to imitate or impersonate popular travel websites by recreating familiar branding, logos or company language. When booking a rental house for vacation, always pay through the service's official website. Keep all your communications with the host in the booking site or app, so you have a complete record and the booking company can help you if necessary. Always book with a credit card in case of dispute.
Perform scam checks
Kingsley urged travelers to conduct fraudulent checks by searching online for unknown retail, travel and service sites by searching for their names as well as terms such as “scam”, “complaints” or “reviews”. Other people who have been taken by them will often post complaints and bad reviews.
Don't use public Wi-Fi
Another way to protect your vacation money is to avoid making transactions over public Wi-Fi to protect your personal information, said Jeremy Albelda, a travel writer at Le Monde or Buste.com.
Public Wi-Fi is often insecure, which means it's easier for hackers to steal your personal information, including passwords, and spy on you through it.
“When in doubt, check official tourism websites or use a trusted travel agent to make your arrangements,” Albelda said.
Check credentials
To protect your vacation budgetyou should always book through reputable agencies with verified credentials, according to Ricky Gomulka, founder and managing partner of Jet Level.
“Check for Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation and membership in professional organizations like NBAA or IS-BAO. Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true and never transfer money or use insecure payment methods. Search for reviews and confirm bookings directly with service providers. Finally, use credit cards for added protection against fraud.
Take out comprehensive travel insurance
Travelers looking to protect their travel investments should purchase comprehensive travel insurance – rather than just medical or baggage insurance – to ensure their travel protection can cover their flights, hotels, prepaid activities, health emergencies and more, according to Lauren Gumport, vice president. president of communications and brand at Faye travel insurance.
“Additionally, more modern travel insurance providers launched in the wake of the COVID-19 (pandemic)… provide 24/7 support, not just in emergencies. They also provide concierge services, including where to dine, the best tours to take, and even where the nearest pharmacies are,” she explained.
Insurance May Not Cover Scams
However, even with travel insurance, Gumport warned that most travel insurance policies generally do not cover scams, such as fake rental properties, “which means your travel insurance policy may cover you in case of trip cancellation, trip delay, missed flight connections and medical emergencies, but if you get scammed, unfortunately, you may end up having to pay this price. Keep this in mind when booking accommodation, and make sure the place you want to book has dozens of reviews before paying.
That said, it also depends on the platform you used to book your stay, she explained. “I once arrived at the Airbnb I booked and the host never showed up. Airbnb asked me to wait an hour to see if they responded, and when they didn't, they refunded my reservation and covered 150% of two nights at a nearby hotel on the Greek island isolated where I was staying.
Avoid overloading
Getting overcharged for a taxi is one of the most popular travel scams and can cause travelers to pay twice as much as usual or more for the same trip, according to Mercedes Zach, a travel expert at ASAPTicketswhich is part of the Trevolution group.
“This is particularly common around airports and hotels that are busy with tourists. To avoid this, be sure to confirm the price of your distance with the taxi driver beforehand and ask him to put the meter on. If the driver refuses to do so, leave and look for another car,” Zach urged.
When in doubt, ask your hotel staff to call a taxi for you, or better yet, use a trusted taxi app such as Uber, Lyft or Bolt which will tell you the exact price and take the money out of your credit card without having to negotiate. with the driver directly, she said. Also make sure to always travel only in authorized taxis.
Don't accept free gifts
Another popular travel scam, especially common in Europe, is giving away bracelets “for free,” Zach explained.
“A friendly salesperson approaches travelers for a chat, then places a bracelet around their wrist just to ask for money or a “donation” right after. If you refuse to pay, they will start making a scene to embarrass you and give them the money after all.
His main advice is to avoid accepting anything for free. “If someone puts something on you, just take it off, give it back and leave quickly.
“The same goes for an injured person or a child asking for money. In most cases, they do this on behalf of local gangs, who collect the funds right after you leave. If you want to help a local, offer them food or donate money to charity instead of giving it to fake beggars.
Don't mistake change
Giving you the wrong change is another travel scam to be wary of, Zach said.
“This can happen in many countries where local bills are similar. Sellers will try to give you less money, hoping you won't notice. To avoid this, always pay attention to the color and amount of each bill you are given, count your change total, or use your credit card instead when possible.
Do not accept local exchange
Additionally, in busy cities where there are many exchange locations near popular tourist attractions, locals may come up to you and offer to change money at a favorable rate and with no commission, Zach explained. “Don’t fall for this scam, as usually some bills in the pile end up being fake. Therefore, it is always better to only contact reputable exchange offices.
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This article was originally published on GOBankingRates.com: Avoiding Travel Scams: How to Protect Your Vacation Budget
