Fraud Tip of the Day - May 15

Travel Agent Scam Tips

Keep these travel scam tips in mind the next time you book your next vacation through a travel agent or agency.

• Check the company out Does the travel agent belong to a professional organization? (American Society of Travel Agents, Association of Retail Travel Agents, Cruise Lines International Association) Are they a member of the Chamber of Commerce? If you don't know find out before you give them your money. If the answer to all of them is "no", you have to wonder how serious this person is about being a travel agent.
  
  
• What's their track record? Do the employees seem experienced? Are there complaints against this company at the Better Business Bureau? If you Google their name do you see reports of unhappy customers? It's easy these days to start a travel company. Just build a half-decent website and away you go. If the company isn't known to you do some research before you give them any money. Protect yourself by never paying for travel with credit cards. Never pay by personal check. Never, ever pay for travel with cash. Always use your credit card because if they rip you off you stand a good chance of recovering your funds as long as you report it to your credit card company soon enough.
  
  
• Do your due diligence! This means that you should always do some research before purchasing a vacation. I don't care how well known and respected the company it is. The advertised deal you are responding to might cost more than you thought because of fees hidden in the fine print or an individual within a fine organization my use tactics that are less than ethical. Be on your guard at all times because with the price of travel these days, a lot of money is at stake.

How to Report Travel Fraud

If you're a victim of travel fraud, notify ASTA's office of consumer affairs, call the National Fraud Information Center's hotline at 800-876-7060, or contact local law enforcement for help.

Visit our fraud reporting section for more information.

More Travel Scam Information