Consumer researcher Sasha Jones hits the streets of South Florida to find out what questions you're most eager to find answers to.
In our series, “Consumer Corner,” NBC6 Responds asks experts your money questions.
Each week we feature a different consumer question.
question: “How can I avoid scams when booking my summer trip?”
Expert: Leila Birge, Director of Gen Digital's Fraud Research Lab
answer:
It's important to be careful when searching for the cheapest flights, hotels, or short-term rentals for your upcoming trip.
Travel fraud typically increases during peak travel seasons.
“So before you book, try to understand: what's the average regular price for the place you're going to? That's what scammers are going to target,” said Leila Birge of Gen Digital.
Birge is a fraud expert and says the first step to avoiding scams is to research your destination and the cost of travel.
This will help you recognize the incredible deals.
Next, try booking directly through the booking platform, she says, this way you can be sure to get the extra protection it offers.
“Secondly, never book outside of the booking platform. When you're trying to book on Airbnb or something, don't start talking to people who say, 'I can give you a better deal if you send me money directly.' It might sound good to you because you might not have to pay Airbnb fees, but the chances of getting scammed are very high,” Birge said.
Finally, beware of so-called scams.
It starts with someone calling and pretending to be an airline or hotel employee. The scammer will often try to get personal information from you.
“This is becoming really important because a lot of scammers and attackers are actually impersonating well-known brands, so even if you think you're getting travel insurance from someone you already know, it's actually a spoof. When you book travel over your mobile phone, it can sometimes be hard to tell where you're going, so you really have to be confident,” Birge said.
Remember, scammers will usually try to pressure you into making a quick decision or asking you to send them money via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
These are usually signs that something is wrong.
If you believe you have been the target of a travel scam, you can report it to the Federal Trade Commission.
