Online is a very popular way to plan a vacation, especially for scammers. And while scams do predate the internet, the use of the internet is multiplying scammers’ opportunities and cloaking them in a layer of secrecy. The old saying your mother taught you still rings true: If it looks too good to be true or sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Below are some tips for spotting vacation scams.
Fake listings – Fake listings are one of the most popular scamming tools used. Often times, scammers will find images of “vacation” homes on the web or find images of homes for sale, and list them as destination vacation lodgings for purchase. Just because you see a hotel, bed and breakfast or home for vacation rental, does not mean the location actually exists. Fake listing scams are all about elaborate false appearances, getting your money upfront, and never about following through.
Not accepting credit cards – A huge red flag that should have every traveler asking questions are establishments not accept credit cards, especially if you are booking through the internet. Using a credit card gives you, the traveler, a layer of protection against scammers. Being able to see where the credit card information is processed helps establish validity of a business transaction, and is more difficult for scammers to be successful. If a business does not want to take credit cards, be very skeptical.
Front desk imposters – Even after you successfully booked your vacation, you still need to be on the lookout for scam artists. Once you are on vacation, be very leery of phone calls to your room asking for personal information. Many scammers make phone calls to hotel rooms posing as the front desk, and asking for a credit card confirmation.
Phony wifi hotspots – Should you need to use the internet while on vacation, be cautions of free wifi. A lot of hotels, coffee shops and restaurants offer free wifi, and most often those establishments offer secure connections. However, make sure you ask for the correct wifi name, otherwise you could be logging onto a scammer’s hotspot without even knowing it, and they could be gaining access to all of your account information.
For additional information and tips on the latest vacation scams that are continuously popping up, establish a good relationship with your local travel agent. Travel agents know all about the scams many travelers fall victim to, and can regularly update you on new ones.
