TULSA, Okla. — You may already be making travel plans for the summer — or possibly still making last-minute family plans for a spring break trip.
If so, experts say to resist the temptation to rush. That can make you more likely to be scammed.
Kari Driscoll is planning their Spring Break plans including a possible flight to Lake Tahoe, or maybe a drive to Dallas.
The Better Business Bureau says to follow Driscoll's husband's lead who she said plans to do plenty of research ahead of time.
Absolutely do your research... first and foremost...before making any payment. Especially if you come across a company you haven't dealt with before.
Be wary of third-party websites. Some appear legitimate but are only fronts for scammers — you may notice typos or grammatical errors.
Confirm the URL before entering personal and payment info. Secure links start with HTTPS.
When you do pay, use a credit card which can be more easily disputed than other methods, but of course there's no way of getting your personal information back.
Driscoll says her husband checks off every one of those boxes.
"My husband is like the best at planning trips. He's really got a gift at it. I'm not so good, so I pack the kids, that's my job."
She said her family has never had any issues traveling and they don't plan on starting this spring.
"It'll be fun, it'll just be a good break, good family time."
It may be difficult, but experts suggest holding off on posting your vacation pictures and highlights on social media until you return home. Some savvy crooks monitor social media to see whose homes are unattended and break into them to steal your stuff.
Here’s more information as you plan your family trips:
The BBB list's the top five scams that victimize travelers:
- Fake vacation rentals
- "Free" vacation offers, that end up costing you big bucks.
- Hotel scams, for properties that don't exist, or are never paid forl
- Third-party booking site deals, that only steal your money and information.
- And timeshare reselling scams.
The BBB says scammers are taking advantage of increased flight cancellations with a new con. BBB Scam Tracker has received multiple reports of scammers creating fake airline ticket booking sites or customer service numbers to charge travelers for rescheduling fake flights. If you are buying airfare, use caution and double-check the URL or phone number before providing your credit card information.
How the scam works:
While doing an online search for cheap flights, you come across what seems like a great deal with a major airline. You book the flight—either through the website or by calling a customer support number.
But shortly after making the payment, you receive a call from the company saying there's been a sudden price increase or an extra charge to finalize your booking. This is something a legitimate company would never do! It turns out that you accidentally purchased tickets through a scam website or a phony customer service number. The price increase is a way to get more money out of you.
In another similar con, your original flight was real, but the cancellation notice is fake. You get an email or text message claiming that your upcoming flight has been canceled and you need to rebook. When you call the number provided, the “airline” offers to book you a new ticket – for a price. However, if you follow up with real airline support, you’ll discover that nothing was wrong with your original flight. The message was a scam, and you just gave your credit card details to a con artist.
One victim told BBB Scam Tracker: "I thought that I bought airline tickets with United Airlines through a company that sells at discounted prices. They called me shortly after I bought my tickets and said that the flight had been canceled. They wanted permission to put me on another flight with Southwest and said it would be 80 dollars extra… It turned out that United Airlines never canceled a flight. I tried to call this company and leave a message, and I tried to email them to no avail. It turns out that the airlines were unaware of this ticket purchase.”
How to avoid travel scams:
Do your research. If you come across a company you haven’t dealt with before, research it before making any purchases. Look on BBB.org for reviews and feedback from previous customers.
Double-check flight details before calling support. Scammers are blasting out fake airline cancellation emails and text messages that can easily be mistaken for the real deal. Confirm the information in the message – such as the flight and reservation numbers – is correct before calling customer support.
Confirm the URL before you enter personal and payment information. It can be easy to click on a sponsored ad or impostor website without noticing. Before entering any sensitive information, double-check that you are on the right website and that the link is secure. (Secure links start with “HTTPS//” and include a lock icon on the purchase page. Learn more at BBB.org/BBBSecure.)
Be wary of third-party websites. Some websites appear to offer a legitimate service but are only fronts for a scam. Be suspicious of websites with no working customer service number or physical address. Typos and grammatical errors can be indications of a scammer’s handiwork.
Make online purchases with your credit card. Fraudulent charges on a credit card can usually be disputed, whereas that might not be the case with other payment methods. Unfortunately, there is no way to get back the personal information you may have shared.
For more information:
For ways to protect yourself from travel scams, go to BBB.org/Travel. Read more about customer service number scams.
Over the years, scammers have also changed their tactics.
"What they are looking for is you to pay a security deposit or something that’s abnormal with gift cards, with money orders, Zelle or Venmo," one expert says.
Scammers create fake airline booking sites and customer service numbers to charge travelers for rescheduling flights. Victims use an online search and stumble across these fake sites offering cheap flights from major airlines. Shortly after booking on the fake site, the victims receive a call from a scammer pretending to be from the company, stating there was a price increase or extra charge to finalize booking.
Scammers also send fake cancellation notices to people who booked real flights through major airlines. The fake texts and emails include a phone number to rebook where scammers on the other end take victims’ personal and payment information.
Do your research. Look the company up on bbb.org if you haven’t worked with them before. If you receive a cancellation text or email, confirm the information – like reservation or flight numbers – before calling customer support.
Be wary of third-party websites & double-check the URL before you enter payment information. Make sure you are on the right website, and the page is secure. (URL says https// and there is a lock symbol). Sites without working phone numbers or physical addresses are a red flag.
Vacation rental scam:
Watch out for listings that either aren’t for rent, don’t exist, or are significantly different than pictured. Scammers lure in victims with prices that are too good to be true. A common scam tactic is to create a false sense of urgency in order to get the money before the victim has time to think it through. Flashy ads can entice consumers to click and enter fake booking websites that look similar to legitimate ones.
Avoid broad internet searches. Searching phrases like ‘best deals’ can sometimes bring up-websites that look official, but are actually fake. Make sure you are on the correct website and it’s a company you’ve heard of.
Talk to the owner by phone. If you are not using a service that verifies properties and owners, don’t negotiate by email or text only. Ask detailed questions about the property and local attractions. If the answers are vague, this is a red flag of a scam.
Check public records. Look up the property and use Google Street View to confirm the property matches the one advertised.
Other tips to ensure a fraud-free vacation:
Plan ahead. Allow plenty of time to research hotels, flights, and the area where you will be staying. Typically, the earlier reservations are made, the better the deals.
Use a credit card. Fraudulent charges on credit cards can usually be disputed, whereas that might not be the case with other payment methods.
Review policies. Keep a copy of the airline’s and hotel’s cancellation and refund policies, as well as the cancellation policies of the travel agency or booking site used.
Consider travel insurance. Travel insurance covers things like trip cancellations or medical emergencies. There are different levels of coverage based on what type of plan purchased. Learn more about whether travel insurance is right for you.
Consider a travel agent. Always check business profiles on www.BBB.org and try to use someone local. Learn how to find the right travel agent for you.
Flying? Know your rights.
Don’t let missed connections or lost luggage ruin your flight.
If your flight is delayed or cancelled and the airline says there are no flights available, be proactive. Search a travel booking website. Oftentimes, seats are still available through these websites – even though the person at the airport desk may tell you otherwise.
Always keep your valuables and irreplaceable items (jewelry, medications, glasses, expensive souvenirs, etc.) with you. Never pack valuables in checked luggage.
Leave yourself extra time between connections in case your initial flight is delayed.
Buy travel insurance if you’re splurging on a trip. Read the contract and check reviews for the insurers.
Know your rights if your flight is delayed, your luggage is lost or you faced unexpected fees.
Avoid scams when booking stays….
Always read the fine print. Remember, the listing with the lowest price isn’t necessarily the best deal. Scammers may lure you in with low prices but tack on additional fees.
Do your research. Go through a source you can trust – especially when booking online.
Try using Google street map to view the address in the listing. Some spring breakers pay to rent a condo and later discover that the property doesn’t exist. Or, they may find the photos and description of the property were copied wholesale from a legitimate listing.
Search to see if it’s a copycat ad. Use an internet search to see if phrases or photos in the ad were swiped from another listing.
Never pay with cash or wire money. Pay with a credit card to protect yourself from fraud.
Keep written copies of everything. You may need travel confirmations, email correspondence and receipts if a dispute arises.
Don’t fall for a contest you never entered. If you receive an email saying you won a cruise, delete it. It’s a scam.
Contact the Problem Solvers:
- 918-748-1502
- problemsolvers@kjrh.com
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