The Federal Trade Commission wants travelers to beware of potential scams involving free vacation offers.
In a recent consumer alert on its website, the commission warned potential travelers that sometimes a deal really can be too good to be true. With the rise of robocalls and scam callers, travel hopefuls are at risk.
The potential scam involves callers reaching out to people and offering them a “free” vacation to lure important information, like a credit card number and other details that can be used for money. The vacation, however, is not “free,” and most travelers end up either paying for it in total or losing money to a non-existent vacation altogether.
Warnings About Upcoming Trips
“When you’re planning a trip — whether it’s a last-minute spring break vacation or another trip — you might be tempted to jump on an offer for a great deal. Unfortunately, scammers sometimes hide behind those offers.” The CDC alert stated that the scammers want to steak travelers’ money through the scams.
The warning went on to share that offers of “free” vacations are often just a lead-up to telling the potential traveler about “fees” they would have to pay — also part of the scam.
One way to spot a scam is by paying extra attention to the type of correspondence you get from them. For example, an email may include a travel package offered at an unusually low price, but will omit specifics including location. An offer with little details could be a scam.
How To Avoid Scams
The Federal Trade Commission also shared tips on how to avoid these scams.
Do your own research. The message said to look up the name of the company offering the deal and check for any complaints or reviews that allow you to get an understanding of whether they are legitimate or not.
Another tip is to avoid paying or exchanging financial information until all specific details have been shared. Things like the hotel’s exact address, cancellation policy, and check-in details should be readily available. Travelers should also verify these details before paying.
Finally, the commission suggests avoiding using certain payment methods to lower the risk of potential scams. “Don’t pay with wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Dishonest travel package promoters will ask you to pay in one of these ways, but that’s a sure sign of a scam.”
To learn more about travel scams and how to avoid them, or to report potential scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website.