Travel Fraud: Go to Paradise, Not to the Cleaners!
Are you looking for a bargain to finance your dream vacation? It’s fine to look for travel bargains. But don’t let your dream turn into a travel nightmare by accepting all offers at face value. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it almost certainly is. You need to look closely at all offers and read the fine print.
Learn tips on protecting your identity when you travel.
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You can avoid becoming a travel victim by being an aware traveler. Think twice before falling for phony and expensive deals like these:
Instant Travel Agent Offers
The deal is that you can qualify for all the wonderful discounts and upgrades available to travel agents just by sending money for some training material and a travel agent ID. The problem? The travel industry doesn’t recognize the ID.
Another twist is for you to sell travel packages to other “instant agents” and get a share of their earnings. This type of multilevel marketing is illegal. The Federal Trade Commission says that of those drawn into one of these schemes, 43,000 made nothing or lost money; 4,000 made less than $50, and only six made $100,000.
Vacation Certificates
They promise you a bargain-priced vacation. However, the certificates don’t mention the extra expenses. When you add up all the fees and extras, you wind up paying more for this “bargain” than for a conventional travel package. Your airfare may be free, but your anticipated $50 hotel room costs you $350.
Free But at What Price
You get a free or low-cost trip, but then find that your room is cramped and grimy, the food terrible or non-existent. The promoter then “magically” finds an upgrade at an outrageous price.
A variation on this scam is you take the bait and fly to Florida or some other state. When you try to pick up the vouchers for the rest of your trip, you’re trapped into lengthy presentations on timeshares. If you don’t listen, you don’t get the vouchers. And the push is on to persuade you to buy a timeshare.
Down-payment Downer
You get a notice that you have won a super travel bargain. All you have to do is make a deposit with your credit card and select your preferred travel dates. But, once you make the deposit, the promoter strings you along, citing various problems in selecting dates until the deal expires or the phone number is disconnected. Getting a refund is next to impossible.
At the Fair
You register for a free trip at a booth at the state fair, shopping mall, or sports event. What you have won is a high-pressured telephone pitch and a deal for off-season or weekday travel to remote locations.
How to Protect Yourself Against Fraud
Common sense and researching your trip can help protect you against travel fraud.
- Be wary of “great” deals.
- Resist high-pressured sales pitches.
- Ask detailed questions about promotions.
- Get all the details, total cost and any refund policy in writing before you pay.
- Never give your credit card number over the phone unless you know the person or company you are dealing with.
- Never be rushed into sending money by overnight express.
- Buy travel services only from a business you know.
- If in doubt, say “no.”
AARP Resources
Dream Vacation Adrift
Bait-and-switch deals on bargain vacations are about half of all travel-related complaints to a Florida Better Business Bureau.
AARP Travel
Get ideas for great travel destinations from AARP’s Travel web area.
Filing Complaints
Mail Fraud Complaint Form
The online form to use if you are a victim of mail fraud.
FTC Consumer Complaint Form
File a complaint about a particular company or organization.
Additional Resources
Better
Business Bureau
These "red flags" indicate a travel scam. Take steps to
protect yourself.
Get
What You Pay For
A travelers' advisory posted by the Federal Trade Commission.
Free
Vacation Scam
The U. S. Postal Inspection Service describes how the "free vacation" scam and others work.
