Watch Out For Travel Scams

In contrast to a lot of products, you generally need to pay for travel services before it is provided. This creates many opportunities for dishonest people and companies. As some travel packages are found to be completely different from what was offered and what the consumer expected, and others have not been provided at all.

Should you ever receive an offer by phone or mail for a free or a hugely discounted vacation package to a popular destination like Hawaii or Florida, there are some key things you should look out for.

If the price seems way too good to be true.  

If you are asked for your credit card number over the phone.

If you are being persuaded to make an instant decision.

If they are evasive about what airline they are representing.

If they cannot state, the exact address of the company they are calling on behalf of.

If you are told you cannot leave for at least two months. 

Be aware that you would not be able to dispute your credit card charges after 60 days, a fact that scammers know all too well.

Should you encounter any of these scenarios, be very careful. Make sure to ask for written information to be sent to you. If it is a legitimate company, they would be happy to comply. If they say they don’t have a brochure, tell them you will like at least two days to think it over. A genuine deal should be still valid after two days. If they cannot fulfill both requests, then the trip is perhaps not right for you.

You may also be told that you have won a free vacation. Be sure to ask if you need to purchase anything to receive it. As some companies advertise free airfare, but you must pay for expensive hotel accommodations, to get it. Or they might be offering a free hotel stay and you will need to pay for your airfare.

If you are interested in their vacation offer and you are convinced of the final price you would have to pay, it may be still wise to first compare what they are offering to deals elsewhere. As often, the attraction of free airfare or free accommodations masks the fact that the total price is still higher than a regular package.

Remember to obtain a confirmed departure date in writing, before paying for anything. Be suspicious if you are told that an appropriate date would be organized later.  

If you would have to be on standby or a waitlist or your reservation can only be given much later, ask if your payment is refundable if you want to cancel. Do not pay any money you cannot afford to lose.

If the package includes staying at a beach resort, ask what the distance from the hotel to the beach is. Then verify it with the hotel.

Check the entire cost of the trip in dollars, this should include all service charges, taxes, and administrative fees.

If you agree to purchase the package after checking all the details. Then you should pay by credit card as you have the legal right to pursue a chargeback or credit should the services that were promised are not delivered.

Always remember if it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.