Don’t Fall Victim To These Popular Travel Scams This Holiday Season

We all know, including scam artists, that the holidays are one of the busiest times of the year for travel. There are new scams being devised somewhere in the world as you read this, but these are some common scams experienced by travelers all over the world.  We are sharing some of the most common ones so that hopefully, you can avoid these unpleasant experiences.

Phone Calls

You get a call from a popular hotel chain offering you an unbelievable deal.  Reputable hotels aren’t going to call you to let you know that they have some amazing deals. Scammers will often tell you that there’s only one room left or that the deal will expire in a few hours. Basically, they will say just about anything to get you to book a room right then and there with your credit card number. If you aren’t sure if the deal is real, think of an excuse to get off the phone and then call the hotel back directly. If you feel a lot of pressure to book that great deal right away, then it’s probably a scam. It’s also a good idea to ask them questions such as what’s near the hotel and what amenities the hotel has. Often times, scammers aren’t able to answer these simple questions quickly.

Email Offers

This scam is easier to fall victim to because hotels do often send out emails to let you know about travel deals and discounts. Scammers take a lot of time to make these emails look real so it’s easy to fall victim to them. If you do receive one of these emails, look at the email address it came from. Usually, the address will be a dead giveaway that it’s not from the hotel. Also, don’t click on any links that will take you to a website. Scammers will even go as far as to create websites that look a lot like the hotels. Instead, read the email and if you are interested in the supposed deal, call the hotel directly and find out if the promotion is legitimate.  Don’t click on any links in the email itself.

One popular email scam is that you have won a “free hotel stay.”  Then when you call they charge you airfare of over $1,000 pp to get to the hotel stay, so in fact, you are paying for the entire package and nothing is free.

Damaged Rentals

Your rent a car or motorbike, and upon returning it you are accused of damaging it.  The company demands money for the repairs.  At times, the damage had already happened.  Or you were followed and the damage was done by an employee.  To avoid this from happening, make sure and take photos of the vehicle before you leave the premises.  Note any damage, you see on the contract you sign.  This typically happens in Mexico, Thailand, the Philippines, Italy & Greece where moped rentals by tourists are quite popular.

Free Wi-Fi

This happens a lot in airports & cafes.  Hackers set up fake access points with common names like AT&T free or something that looks legitimate but there is someone sitting close by with a router that watches all traffic going through that device.  So if you happen to log into your bank or other accounts, they can see passwords and user names.  Another version is called man-in-the-middle where you are using free Wi-Fi & cybercriminals to exploit security flaws in the network to intercept data. Essentially, this gives a hacker access to sniff out any information that passes between you and the websites you visit — details of browsing activities, account logins, and purchase transactions. Your sensitive information, such as passwords and financial data, are then vulnerable to identity theft.

Fake Tour Guides

It can happen anywhere. People will come up to you with fake uniforms and even signs and sell you on must-see sites at a discount, or a festival that is in town for a limited time.  This is especially true in Southwest Asia.  We have had several clients approached in Thailand with this.  You either don’t get your money’s worth, they guide you to a different attraction, or to a shop where you are pressured to purchase something, or worse yet, they drive you to a remote place to rob you.  We recommend using a travel agent to plan your private tour with a reputable company.  If you prefer to go it alone, always research in advance, verify opening hours before leaving for your destination, and politely refuse to be lead anywhere else.

Free Bracelet

Often in Europe, someone very friendly will approach you and offer the bracelet as a welcome to the country and a sign of friendship.  They are quick to place the bracelet on your wrist which is not easily removable.  The friendly personality is now gone, replaced with an aggressive tone that you should pay him for his “gift.” My experience with this was someone dressed like a monk who didn’t speak.  He handed me a bracelet before I even realized what was going on.  Then gave me a card to read about it being his life’s work. I tried to give the bracelet back and he wouldn’t accept it and kept putting his hand out for money.  To avoid this from happening, be alert, and do not accept anything from strangers. Ignore them and keep walking.

Photo Offer

While hanging out on a crowded street, a local offers to take a photo of you and your friends.  As you are posing you realize the stranger is now gone with your expensive camera or cell phone.

Souvenir Switch

You buy a souvenir and the stall owner offers to wrap it up for you.  While you aren’t looking, the item is replaced by something cheaper or broken and you don’t realize it until you are home and excitedly unwrapping your things. To avoid this, keep an eye on the items as it is being wrapped.

This has also happened where a vendor shows someone a high-end item such as a leather wallet and once you agree on a price, they subsitute the item for a knockoff.  It’s best to avoid high-end shopping from street vendors.  Only purchase goods from reputable dealers and stores that provide proof of authenticity.

Ways To Avoid Being Scammed

• Use a trusted travel agent. If you are needing help with your travel plans, find a reputable travel agency to help you. They can give you free advice, find you great deals and you won’t have to worry about getting scammed in the process.
• Do your research. It’s a good idea to do a lot of research before booking a hotel, tour, or transfer. Don’t just book something on a whim because of a good deal. Research your options and read reviews so that you can ensure that you are getting what you paid for.
• Always be vigilant, even in seemingly innocent situations. While it’s not a good idea either to just ignore every stranger who tries to make small talk, always keep a lookout for indicators of a scam.
• Use your credit card. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you can fall victim to a scam. Because of this, it’s a good idea to use a credit card when making travel plans. It’s usually easier to get your money back than it would be if you used your debit card.

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