Summer is approaching and travelers are preparing for trips both domestically and internationally. As you start preparing for your vacation, scammers are preparing to find ever more creative ways to scam you out of your hard-earned money.
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To help you save cash for your vacation and have the best time while you're on the road, experts will explain what scams to watch out for when buying flights, booking accommodations, and making other travel-related expenses.
Be careful not to be too good to be true
Scams most often appear through emails, phone calls and social media posts and messages, according to Darius Kingsley, managing director and head of consumer banking at Chase Bank. “Scammers often try to obtain unsuspecting consumers' information through travel offers or sales that sound too good to be true,” he said.
So if something looks or sounds questionable, or too good to be true, take a moment to reflect and consider its validity. Trust your instincts.
“Rather than engage with unexpected and seemingly suspicious emails, phone calls, or social media messages, hit delete, don't open the link, hang up, or simply ignore the scammer's potential. Cut off sexual people immediately,” he said.
If you still have doubts about the validity of an offer, check the source's website or phone number to verify the information directly. He urged people to remain wary of unsolicited offers and opportunities.
Read next: 9 American travel brands to avoid
Book from trusted sites
For added protection, Kingsley said consumers should consider booking travel through trusted sites such as airlines, hotels and even banks.
For example, Chase customers can book travel and redeem rewards online or within a mobile app, he said.
Reconfirmation of accommodation facilities
Kingsley said one of the most infuriating travel scams is when travelers are scammed out of vacation rentals. There's nothing worse than spending an exhausting day traveling and then finding yourself with nowhere to stay and a large amount of cash gone.
“In some cases, scammers pose as rental hosts and take reservations for properties that don’t exist. In other cases, scammers have tried to force consumers to cancel their reservations and lose their money. '' Kingsley explained.
He added that it's important to be extremely careful when booking rental homes while traveling and to know how to spot scams.
“Scammers attempt to imitate or impersonate popular travel websites by recreating well-known brands, logos, company verbiage, etc. If you are booking a rental home for your vacation, Make sure to pay through the service's official website and keep all interactions with the host on the booking site or app so you have a complete record and the booking company can assist you if needed. Please make sure to book with a credit card in case of a dispute.
Do a fraud check
Kingsley urges travelers to conduct a fraud check by searching online for unfamiliar retail, travel and service sites and searching for terms such as “scam,” “complaints,” and “reviews” along with names. urged. Others who have been fooled by them often post complaints and bad reviews.
Don't use public Wi-Fi
Jeremy Albelda, travel writer for TheWorldorBust.com, said another way to keep your money safe while on vacation is to avoid transactions on public Wi-Fi to keep your personal information safe.
Public Wi-Fi is often unsecured, making it easier for hackers to steal and spy on your personal information, including your passwords.
“When in doubt, refer to official tourism websites or use a trusted travel agent to make arrangements,” says Albelda.
Verify credentials
According to Ricky Gomulka, Founder and Managing Partner of JetLevel, to stay within your vacation budget, you should always book through a trusted agent with verified credentials.
“Check for Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation and membership in professional organizations such as NBAA or IS-BAO. Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true and never use wire transfers or unsecured payment methods. Research reviews and confirm reservations directly with the service provider. Finally, use a credit card for added fraud protection.
Purchase full travel insurance
According to Vice President Lauren Gunport, travelers who want to protect their travel investment should purchase travel insurance for the entire trip, not just medical or baggage, and cover things like flights, hotels, prepaid activities, and health emergencies. You need to make sure your travel insurance covers you. She is President of Communications and Brand for Faye Travel Insurance.
“Also, more modern travel insurance companies launched post-COVID-19 [pandemic]…We provide assistance 24/7, not just in emergencies. “We also have a concierge who can help you with things like where to eat, which tours are best to take, and where the nearest pharmacy is,” she explained.
Insurance may not cover fraud
But even with travel insurance, Gunport warned that most travel insurance policies usually don't cover scams such as fake rental properties. We provide emergency medical care, but if you are scammed, you may sadly end up paying for it yourself. Keep that in mind when booking accommodation and make sure the place you want to book has a lot of reviews before you pay. ”
That said, she explained that it also depends on the platform you used to book your stay. “I once arrived at an Airbnb I had booked, and the host never showed up. Airbnb asked me to wait an hour to see if he would respond, and he didn't, so… They refunded my reservation and compensated me 150% for two nights at a hotel near the remote Greek island where I was staying.”
avoid overcharging
Overcharging taxi fares is one of the most common travel scams, with travelers paying double or more for the same trip, according to Mercedes Zach, travel expert at ASAPTickets, a Treevolution Group. Might pay. .
“This often happens, especially near airports and hotels where there are a lot of tourists. To avoid this, be sure to ask the taxi driver in advance about the fare based on the distance and ask him to turn on the meter. Driving If the hand refuses, just leave the car and find another car,” Zack urged.
When in doubt, ask your hotel staff to call you a taxi, or better yet, use a reliable taxi app like Uber, Lyft, or Bolt that will give you an accurate price and give you a credit card without the hassle. This means that you can withdraw money from. She contacted the driver directly, she said. Also, be sure to only take authorized taxis.
Don't accept free gifts
Zak says another common travel scam, especially in Europe, is giving away “free” bracelets.
“A friendly vendor approaches the traveler and engages in a conversation, then immediately places a bracelet on his or her wrist and asks for money or a ‘donation’. If you refuse to pay, they will start making a fuss and you will get embarrassed and end up handing over the money. ”
Her main advice is to never accept anything for free. “If someone puts something on you, take it off, give it back, and leave immediately.
“The same goes for asking money from injured people or children. Most of the time they do it for local gangs and collect the funds quickly after you leave. Help the locals If you want, offer to buy them food instead, or donate money to charity instead of giving it to fake beggars.”
Don't make the mistake of changing
Zach says giving incorrect change is also a travel scam and one to be careful about.
“That can happen in many countries where local bills are similar. Sellers will try to give you less money in the hopes that you won't notice. To avoid that, don't pass Always pay attention to the color and amount of each bill and count your change or use your credit card whenever possible.
Currency exchange will not be accepted on-site.
Also, in a busy city with lots of exchange offices near popular tourist attractions, Zach says a local might approach you and exchange your money at a better rate with no fees. “Don't fall for this scam. Most of the time, some of the banknotes in the pile are fake, so it's best to only go to trusted exchange shops.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Avoiding Travel Scams: How to Stick to Your Vacation Budget
