Fraud Tip of the Day - May 15

Travel Agent Scam Tips

• Check the company out
  Is the travel agent you're dealing with a member of a professional organization such as the American Society of Travel Agents, Association of Retail Travel Agents, or the Cruise Lines International Association? Do they belong to a local Chamber of Commerce? These are important questions to ask. If the answer to all of them is "no", you have to wonder how serious this person is about being a travel agent.
  
  
• How long have they been around?
  Do the employess seem experienced? Are there complaints against this company at the Better Business Bureau? 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 cash or checks. Always use your credit card because if you are victimized online you stand a good chance of recovering your funds if you report it 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

More travel scam coverage on Fraud Guides