There’s no doubt that travel is a big business, but unfortunately, it’s not limited to hotels, airlines and tour companies. Scammers and con artists from around the world are constantly cooking up new schemes to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists, but you don’t have to fall victim to their cons. Here are a few tips to avoid common travel ripoffs.
Do a little digging
If that cruise package or all-inclusive getaway to Jamaica sounds too good to be true, it just might be. Scammers will offer all sorts of unbelievably low prices for travel packages that should cost two or three times as much, hoping to lure a credit card number out of you while you’re entranced by the thought of such an affordable vacation. Before you ever hand over your credit card information, check out the company through the Better Business Bureau or a quick Internet search. You should be able to quickly see if others have been scammed by the company or if there are legitimate reviews of the business.
Make sure that rental is really for rent
Thinking of going with a vacation rental rather than a hotel room for your next getaway? Before you wire money to that anonymous poster on Craigslist, you should make sure that house is actually for rent. While there are legitimate rentals on Craigslist, scammers love to use the site to post fake rentals and request a deposit before supposedly making your reservation. After they receive the money, they’re never heard from again – and you show up to a home that was never for rent. Whether it’s a rental, vacation package, tour or other travel offer, make sure it actually exists before ever paying a cent. And if possible, try to pay in person rather than wiring money in advance.
Always read the fine print
The devil is in the details, as they say, and glossing over the fine print can lead to a frustrating travel experience. Take, for example, timeshare presentations. Often, the premise behind these events is that you’ll get a free trip, hotel accommodations or theme park tickets in exchange for sitting through a presentation. But just how difficult will it be to cash in on your reward? Do you need to stay for a minimum amount of time? Can you only use your rewards on certain days? Do you need to pay a processing fee to book your free trip? Whether you’re attending a timeshare presentation or signing up for another travel offer, read through the fine print thoroughly to make sure you’ll actually be able to enjoy the offer.
Never cave to pressure
Scammers and others who would try to rip off an unsuspecting tourist thrive on pressuring you to make an immediate decision. Why? It prevents you from having enough time to think things through and realize that you should probably avoid whatever’s being offered. Scammers use tactics to confuse, persuade and pressure you, all in the hopes that you’ll become their next victim. In these cases, it’s best to stay strong and avoid their pressuring tactics. If you don’t feel comfortable, go with your gut and remove yourself from the situation until you’ve had time to think. Legitimate businesses won’t mind you taking a few minutes, hours or days to make up your mind, and remember: Even if you’re being told this is a “one-time only” deal, there will always be another company ready to take your money when you’re comfortable enough to buy.
(Main image: Jenifer Corrêa)
