With 30% of Americans traveling over the Thanksgiving holidays and 25% planning to visit friends or relatives away from home over Christmas, there are a lot of plans, bookings and itinerary happening over the next few weeks. And, as with any opportunity for increased amounts of transactions – the risk of fraud goes up as well.
Travel fraud costs reputable hotels and airlines billions of dollars annually and is a significant market for con artists.
Due to their success in defrauding customers, there are an increasing number of fake travel booking websites.
Even though a trip might occasionally seem legitimate, there are some indications that it might be a travel scam. To avoid scams or fraudulent activities, it is crucial to make sure that travel reservations, especially those made online, are legitimate.
Here’s how to know if your trip booking is legitimate to avoid falling victim to travel fraud.
Avoiding Travel Fraud: 11 Ways to Know if Your Trip Bookings Are Legit
#1. The travel provider is reputable.
Travel companies with a good reputation typically have a robust online presence and a satisfied clientele.
They typically have:
- a legitimate physical address
- an official website
- verifiable contact information
Before booking, take the extra step of calling the travel provider. Additionally, look up their physical address on Google to confirm that it corresponds with what is shown on their website.
#2. The social media links work.
Check the website’s social media links to see if they work.
Any reputable company should have social media presence. Often times, travel fraud scam artists will link to a private Facebook account instead of a company account.
#3. Official affiliations.
Legitimate booking agencies are usually members of recognized industry associations or affiliations.
For instance, travel agencies may hold accreditation from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), and airlines may be members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
These affiliations can indicate the legitimacy of the provider. They also provide an additional source of verification if you are unsure.
#4. Accepts payments through secure means.
Use secure and reliable payment methods when paying for your reservations.
Scammers frequently attempt to obtain money through:
- wire transfers
- the purchase of gift cards
- or the use of cash reload cards
If a website does this, something is wrong.
Credit cards or reputable online payment platforms offer additional protection and allow you to dispute fraudulent charges if necessary. Refrain from using unusual payment methods or sending your financial information through unreliable channels.
#5. The website is secure.
Make sure the website has a secure connection before making any online reservations.
The padlock icon in the address bar and the prefix “https://” in the website’s URL are indicators of a secure connection. (Look in the top left corner of your screen.)
Since word of scam websites spreads quickly, con artists frequently abandon their old sites and launch new ones. To determine the domain’s age, use websites like https://whois.domaintools.com/. It is likely that the website is fake if it is only a few weeks old.
#6. Your reservation is confirmed after paying.
If you call before or after making a payment, you will know if your travel reservation is legitimate.
To confirm your reservation, it is a good idea to speak with the airline, hotel, or other travel company directly.
To check the agency’s legitimacy, this can be done at various times. You can make a call a few days before your payment and another call afterward. Use the official contact details you can find on their website or from other trustworthy sources.
You can confirm the specifics of your reservation and make sure they have a record of it by speaking with a representative.
If there is no record of your reservation, it is best to find out as soon as you can. You will have enough time to report the fraud, let your credit card company know, and book real reservations.
#7. Email confirmation.
Genuine websites typically use an automated procedure to confirm bookings via email.
If after a few hours you still have not received a confirmation, check with the place where you made your reservation to make sure they got it. If this does not happen, be proactive and call your bank to cancel the transaction.
#8. Reviews can be authenticated.
You can verify if the reviews are real or not by checking TripAdvisor or Better Business Bureau.
Even if you see a review, check if the same profile has left other reviews or not.
#9. No grammatical errors.
Any well-meaning, reputable agency will take the time to have a professional website.
This includes having one that is devoid of grammatical errors. If a site has grammatical errors, chances are it is run by scammers.
#10. Booking details are well explained.
Genuine reservation confirmations typically include specific information about the reservation.
Pay close attention to the reservation details, such as:
- the names of the flights or hotels
- the dates, the times
- and any extra services you requested
Check for any discrepancies or unexpected changes.
#11. Too good to be true.
When the cost of a flight and hotel is half what it is on every other website, that may be a sign of scammy travel fraud.
Real discounts might only be accessible off-season or as part of a package. If at all possible, whenever in doubt, attempt to book or confirm the deal directly with the hotel or airline.
13 Common Vacation Scams You Need to Avoid This Summer
Avoid Travel Fraud by Paying Attention!
As the vacation season returns to pre-pandemic levels, with many people planning to travel, scammers are also coming up with schemes on how to fleece people.
Before you book your vacation online, take the time and extra steps to verify. Do not be in a rush to pay, even if the offer is cheap. A little due diligence will go a long way toward saving you money.
Editor’s note: This article was originally published Jul 14, 2023 and has been updated to improve reader experience.
