Unfortunately, people who decide to go on that much-deserved vacation often find themselves thetargets of a sophisticated scam.
We have seen travel scams come in via text message, email and on social media.
Thats why its important to be extra vigilant as you book travel arrangements and go about your trip.
To help vacationers avoid scams, we asked experts to share the red flags they should watch out for.
The situation or offer seems too good to be true.
Thats a well-known, long touted scam tip-off, but it still is true.
But remember that these exclusive deals are often too unrealistic to be credible.
The same goes for in-person fraud.
warnedJulian Moro, senior vice president and regional security director at International SOS.
A very, very attractive person comes up to you out of the blue at the bar?
Someone incredibly friendly has a relative from the exact same city youre from and wants to buy you lunch?
Or maybe they will duck out and leave you with the bill.
The payment method seems suspect.
Listen for the way theyre asking to be paid, Nofziger advised.
Wire transfers or checks shouldnt be necessary for basic travel bookings either.
Stick to secure payment methods through official channels.
Credit cards offer more fraud protection than a debit card.
Take care with your money when going to unfamiliar places.
Something about the website feels off.
Be very careful when doing online searches, Nofziger said.
Criminals can engineer their website to be at the top of the search results to get your attention.
Many scammers will place fake customer service phone numbers online.
Look out for unexpected spelling and grammar mistakes and poor image quality or design before sharing sensitive information online.
One of the best lines of defense against scams and threats while traveling is your instinct, Moro said.
Most of the time, your instinct is right.
Communication takes place through unofficial channels.
Never trust unsolicited communication of any kind, Armeson urged.
see to it youre communicating with travel vendors through their official phone number, app or email address.
Keep communication on the system where it can be monitored.
Youre pressured to buy quickly … Do not allow FOMO get a hold of your emotions, Nofziger said.
Take your time to think about the offer or what the offer is.
For more big purchases like this, any legitimate company will not put pressure on you to buy.
Its worth taking time to gather all the information you gotta ensure the provider is credible.
… and to share personal information.
Be mindful of giving too much personal information to people you meet during your travels as well.
Do not share information with strangers including your accommodations and itinerary while embarking on your journey, Moro advised.
And if youre traveling with a group, avoid separating from them.
What to do if you suspect youve been scammed.
They can help you secure your accounts and get new cards.
You should also dispute any fraudulent charges and see if payments can be stopped or reversed.
Reach out to your travel insurance provider as well.
If you think your equipment was hacked, use a reputable security app to scan for malware.
Change your passwords for important accounts and ensure two-factor authentication is enabled on all of them.
Consider reporting what happened to the local authorities if it feels safe to do so.
There are also helpful resources like theAARPs Fraud Watch web link, which is available to non-members as well.
Then, go andreport it to the Federal Trade Commission.
