Travel Scams to Watch Out for Before Your Next Vacation

Planning a vacation should be exciting, but unfortunately, travelers are also a popular target for scammers.

Travel scams have become increasingly sophisticated. Some fake websites, emails and text messages can look nearly identical to the real thing, making it harder than ever to know what you can trust.

The good news is that a little awareness can go a long way. Here are some of the most common travel scams to watch for before and during your next trip.

1. Fake Airline and Booking Websites

One of the easiest ways scammers reach travelers is through fake websites that are designed to look like a legitimate airline, hotel, cruise line or travel company.

You may find the website through an online search and everything may look completely normal, including the logo, photos and booking information.

Before entering your personal or credit card information, take a moment to check the web address carefully. Small spelling changes or an unusual web address can be a warning sign.

Travel Advisor Tip: Don't automatically assume the first result you see in a Google search is the company's official website. Sponsored advertisements can sometimes lead to misleading or fraudulent websites.

2. Fake Customer Service Phone Numbers

This is one travelers should be particularly careful about.

Imagine your flight is canceled and you quickly search online for the airline's customer service number. Unfortunately, scammers sometimes create fake listings or advertisements containing fraudulent phone numbers.

When you call, the person on the other end may sound completely professional and may even know enough about the airline to seem legitimate. They may then ask for your credit card information or payment to change your reservation.

Whenever possible, get the airline's phone number directly from its official website or mobile app.

And if you booked your trip through a travel advisor, call your advisor first. We can help determine who you actually need to contact.

3. Emails or Texts Saying There Is a Problem With Your Reservation

You might receive a message that says:

“Your hotel payment failed.”

“Your reservation will be canceled unless you verify your information.”

“Your flight has changed. Click here to confirm.”

These messages are designed to create urgency so that you click before stopping to think.

Instead of clicking the link in the message, open the airline, cruise line or hotel's official app or website separately and check your reservation there.

You can also contact your travel advisor to verify whether there really has been a change.

4. Deals That Are Too Good to Be True

We all love finding a great travel deal, but an unusually low price can sometimes be a warning sign.

This is especially important with vacation rentals, hotels and travel packages.

Before sending money, make sure you know exactly who you are booking with and what is included. Be particularly cautious if someone pressures you to book immediately or communicate outside of a trusted booking platform.

Sometimes there really are incredible travel deals.

But if something doesn't feel right, it's worth taking a few extra minutes to verify it.

5. Unusual Payment Requests

How someone asks you to pay can tell you a lot.

Be very cautious if someone claiming to represent a travel company asks you to pay using:

• Gift cards

• Wire transfers

• Cryptocurrency

• Payment apps to an individual

• Another payment method that offers little or no purchase protection

Credit cards generally provide much stronger fraud protections than these types of payments.

6. Public Wi-Fi While Traveling

Free Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, cafés and other public places is convenient, but public networks can also create security risks.

Avoid accessing sensitive accounts, online banking or entering important passwords while connected to an unfamiliar public Wi-Fi network.

If possible, use your cellular connection, a secure personal hotspot or another trusted connection when accessing sensitive information.

7. Currency Conversion at Shops and ATMs

When traveling internationally, a credit card terminal or ATM may ask whether you would like to be charged in U.S. dollars or in the local currency.

It may feel easier to choose dollars because you immediately know how much you are spending.

However, choosing U.S. dollars can sometimes result in a less favorable exchange rate through something called Dynamic Currency Conversion.

In many situations, choosing the local currency and allowing your credit card company to handle the conversion can be the better option. Avoid using ATM's that are not connected to an actual bank.

8. Taxi, Tour Operator and Hotel Staff Impersonators

Travel scams don't only happen before your trip. They can also happen once you arrive at your destination.

Scammers sometimes target visitors by pretending to be legitimate taxi drivers, tour operators, transportation providers or even hotel staff. Because travelers are often navigating unfamiliar places, it can be easy to trust someone who appears to know where they are going or claims to be expecting you.

Before getting into a vehicle, joining a tour or handing over payment, take a moment to confirm who you are dealing with.

For example, check your original confirmation for:

• A phone number

• Vehicle information

• The name of the tour company

• Meeting instructions or pickup location

If something doesn't match your reservation, don't be afraid to stop and verify it before continuing.

When paying while traveling, using a credit card whenever possible can also provide additional protection against fraudulent charges. Mobile wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay can provide another layer of security because your actual card number isn't shared directly during the transaction.

Travel Advisor Tip: Keep your transportation, tour and hotel confirmations easy to access while traveling. Having the original details handy makes it much easier to verify that the person meeting you is actually the person you booked.

One More Reason to Work With a Travel Advisor

One of the benefits of booking through a trusted travel advisor is having a real person you know and can contact when something doesn't seem right.

If you suddenly receive a suspicious email about your cruise, can't tell whether an airline phone number is legitimate or aren't sure if a request for payment is normal, you don't have to figure it out by yourself.

Give us a call.

At Newberg Travel & Cruise, we help our clients not only plan and book their vacations, but also navigate the questions and unexpected situations that can come along with traveling.

A few extra minutes of caution can make a big difference, and we'd much rather have you ask us, “Does this look right?” than discover later that it wasn't.

Ready to Start Planning Your Next Trip?

Whether you're dreaming about a cruise, Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, an all-inclusive getaway or somewhere completely different, we're here to help.

Contact Newberg Travel & Cruise and let us help make your next vacation a little easier from the planning stages all the way through your return home.