Top 5 Vacation Scams from the Better Business Bureau

1. Vacation Rental Con Artist

Con artist lure in vacationers with the promise of low fees and great amenities. The “owner” creates a false sense of urgency -such as telling potential clients that another person is interested in the rental also so they must send a payment quickly. Not allowing the renter sufficient time to complete research. If you are not using a service that verifies properties and owners, do not solely negotiate by email. Many scammers do not live locally. Request that you want to speak to the owner on the phone, ask questions about the property and local attractions. Check public records, do a google search of the property to verify it matches the one advertised.

2. Free Vacation Scams

When a cruise or travel company advertise a vacation as “free”, it does not necessarily mean the trip is entirely free. Watch out for add-on fees for air transportation, port charges, taxes. If you are told you won a trip without entering a contest, be suspicious. If the deal is too good to be true, be suspicious. If you are pressured to accept an offer before its gone forever, be suspicious.

3. Hotel Scams

When staying at a hotel, beware of these techniques used to get ahold of credit card information. Fake front desk calls – scammers call late at night impersonating the front desk, the caller states there is a problem with the card on file and request that you re-verify. Free Wifi Connections – wifi skimming is a growing scam that targets travelers with the promise that the hotel comes with free internet access.  Avoid doing any banking transactions or checking personal accounts when using an open network. Fake food delivery – scammers will distribute fake menus to hotels, when travelers call the phone number and place an order, the scammers will get their credit card information.

4. Third Party Booking Site Scams

If you book your airfare, hotel or other travel through a third-party website, be sure to use caution. In the most common version of the scam, travelers who pay with credit card would receive a phone call from the company (scammers) shortly after a purchase asking to re verify name, address, bank account information, something a legitimate company would not do.

4. Timeshare Reselling Cons

Another common travel scam is the timeshare resale con. A timeshare owner who is looking to sell gets a call from someone claiming to be a real estate broker or agent. These scammers claim to specialize in timeshare resales and promise they have buyers ready to purchase. To secure this service, the scammer pressures the target into paying an upfront fee. The timeshare owner pays up, but the reselling agent never delivers.