FIVE SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP YOU AVOID COMMON TRAVEL SCAMS
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Online travel fraud steals millions of dollars from consumers each year. These five simple strategies will help you protect yourself and your bank account from many of the most common scams.
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With tens of thousands of fake rental ads posted online each year- consumers are have an increasingly difficult time trying to protect themselves from online travel scams. We are here to help you as much as we can with verified reservations and rental escrow to ensure a safe vacation rental, but we realize that you can't always depend on a supervised timeshare rental to meet every travel need. For those times when you have to look elsewhere for a reservation, - here are five basic strategies that should help you to navigate through the dangers and still score that next dream vacation!
1) Always pay with a traditional credit card… If your travel dates are within your card’s allowed dispute window (most cards allow up to 90-days from the time of payment), always insist on paying with your credit card. NEVER pay with a check, wire transfer, or any type of cash app that doesn’t allow you to dispute the payment at a later date. If the seller tells you they don’t accept credit cards- then look for another rental!
2) Always take the time to read online reviews… Always try to use multiple sources such as Google, Facebook, Bing, and the Better Business Bureau when you look for company reviews. While fake reviews are very common (TripAdvisor reported taking action against than a million fraudulent reviews on their website in 2021 alone), there are still millions of valid consumer reviews that are posted daily. These reviews can be the most up to date litmus test of a company's commitment to customer service. Be sure to take everything you read with a healthy dose of skepticism- both good and bad; but online reviews are still the best way to get an introduction to a business you don’t personally know.
3) When possible- avoid individual home or cabin rentals… When renting at a more traditional venue like a hotel or timeshare resort , you will have an opportunity to call and verify your reservation with the front desk staff that are on property. When calling the resort, always take the time to locate the phone number online, to ensure you are speaking with the property itself and always ask for the front desk. Never rely on the contact number that was provided by the rental agent. If a con artist is willing to lie and steal your money, they are also willing to give you a fake phone number.
4) When renting from an agency or broker, always use an established business… This may seem like common sense but thousands of consumers each year fall victim to online travel fraud, and the vast majority have no real idea who actually stole their money. This strategy goes hand-in-hand with the research you should have already done in step #2. When you look up the rental agency, pay attention to how long they’ve been in business and look for any large time gaps in their online reviews. Con artists often steal the identity of a real business, sometimes using company names that are no longer in business or they'll simply pretend to work for an active business with a good reputation. Find a contact phone number online, and call the business to confirm you are in fact dealing with that same company. A quick phone call to double check can easily save you from being a victim!
5) If it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam… This is the one strategy that always seems to be the hardest for consumers to follow. Con artists take advantage of our own greed and excitement- and the thieves will often bait the hook with an “unbelievable” bargain. They will then use high pressure tactics to try and rush you into making an on-the-spot purchase decision. Always let your common sense save you! If something doesn’t feel right, give yourself a moment to think. Never allow yourself to be pushed to make a decision before you’ve gone through the four steps above. Stay calm. Stay patient. Stay cautious. Trust your instincts, and do your research. This is the most important step you can take to protect yourself from online travel fraud!
1) Always pay with a traditional credit card… If your travel dates are within your card’s allowed dispute window (most cards allow up to 90-days from the time of payment), always insist on paying with your credit card. NEVER pay with a check, wire transfer, or any type of cash app that doesn’t allow you to dispute the payment at a later date. If the seller tells you they don’t accept credit cards- then look for another rental!
2) Always take the time to read online reviews… Always try to use multiple sources such as Google, Facebook, Bing, and the Better Business Bureau when you look for company reviews. While fake reviews are very common (TripAdvisor reported taking action against than a million fraudulent reviews on their website in 2021 alone), there are still millions of valid consumer reviews that are posted daily. These reviews can be the most up to date litmus test of a company's commitment to customer service. Be sure to take everything you read with a healthy dose of skepticism- both good and bad; but online reviews are still the best way to get an introduction to a business you don’t personally know.
3) When possible- avoid individual home or cabin rentals… When renting at a more traditional venue like a hotel or timeshare resort , you will have an opportunity to call and verify your reservation with the front desk staff that are on property. When calling the resort, always take the time to locate the phone number online, to ensure you are speaking with the property itself and always ask for the front desk. Never rely on the contact number that was provided by the rental agent. If a con artist is willing to lie and steal your money, they are also willing to give you a fake phone number.
4) When renting from an agency or broker, always use an established business… This may seem like common sense but thousands of consumers each year fall victim to online travel fraud, and the vast majority have no real idea who actually stole their money. This strategy goes hand-in-hand with the research you should have already done in step #2. When you look up the rental agency, pay attention to how long they’ve been in business and look for any large time gaps in their online reviews. Con artists often steal the identity of a real business, sometimes using company names that are no longer in business or they'll simply pretend to work for an active business with a good reputation. Find a contact phone number online, and call the business to confirm you are in fact dealing with that same company. A quick phone call to double check can easily save you from being a victim!
5) If it sounds too good to be true, it is probably a scam… This is the one strategy that always seems to be the hardest for consumers to follow. Con artists take advantage of our own greed and excitement- and the thieves will often bait the hook with an “unbelievable” bargain. They will then use high pressure tactics to try and rush you into making an on-the-spot purchase decision. Always let your common sense save you! If something doesn’t feel right, give yourself a moment to think. Never allow yourself to be pushed to make a decision before you’ve gone through the four steps above. Stay calm. Stay patient. Stay cautious. Trust your instincts, and do your research. This is the most important step you can take to protect yourself from online travel fraud!