Don’t fall victim to travel fraud schemes this spring
Navigating a
safe journey
BY MICHELLE JACOBY
AS THE WEATHER WARMS, wanderlust begins to set in for travelers wanting to explore new destinations. While embarking on new adventures is exciting, the risk of falling victim to travel scams is a reality. If springtime travel is in your plans, here are a few essential tips to help ensure a safe and secure journey.
Recognize a scam While fraudsters are continually coming up with new ways to scam travelers, they often trick people with emails or
reputable travel platforms, and official airline and hotel websites. Scammers often create fake booking sites to collect payment information or sell nonexistent reservations. Get it in writing
text messages about “free” vacations and robocalls selling vacation deals. If you respond to these offers, you’ll learn that you’ll have to pay fees and taxes upfront. A legitimate company won’t ask you to pay for a “free” prize. Beware of phishing
Before finalizing your trip details— and, more importantly, making final
Never click on suspicious links or respond to unsolicited emails or messages claiming to be from airlines,
payment—get everything in writing. Details should include the trip itinerary complete with names of the airlines, hotels, charters and groups; total cost including fees, charges and taxes; restrictions; and cancellation policies and penalties. Protect your payment methods
hotels or travel agencies. Instead, go to the company’s official website and search for travel offers, or locate their customer service number on the website and call them directly to inquire or verify the offer. Use reputable sources
When making travel-related purchases, use credit cards with fraud-protection
When planning your vacation, one of the best lines of defense is getting recommendations from family and
services. These include features that will help detect unusual or suspicious transactions; real-time alerts; zero-liability protection and enhanced security measures for online transactions. Notify your bank
friends. Ask for good travel agencies, vacation rentals, hotels and travel packages, then book on
20
IN YOUR CORNER ISSUE 16 | 2024
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker