While you’re looking forward to a nice trip for the winter, scammers are looking, too – for you.

In general, if you get a robo-call or an unsolicited email, letter, text message or flyer and the deal looks too good to be true…it usually is. Doubly so if they announce that you’ve “won” a wonderful ‘free’ trip.

The most common scams are:

• Great vacation places to stay at really low costs. The scam? The venues don’t exist or, if they exist, may not be as advertised,  or are in unacceptable locations….or don’t even belong to the person ‘renting” it to you!
• Charter flights including lodging and other amenities. Some of these prove not to be as offered; some don’t exist at all.
• “Help” securing necessary documents for your trip.

Check for Red Flags

Be alert for the red flags that practically scream “Walk away!”:

• An unsolicited phone call, letter, text or email announcing that you’ve ‘won” a “free” trip. (Some scammers will even ask you to scan a code….full of malware!)
• Details, whether for a rental or charter flight package, are vague and can’t be corroborated.
• A sense of urgency.  You must ‘act now” and must make a fast decision to “hold” the reservation – with payment up front, of course.
• Payment is to be made by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency…some savvy travelers are cautious about P2P cash transfer apps scams, as well.

Vacation Payment Scams

Money transfer scams: Wire transfer demands are a favorite of scammers who set up faux vacation rentals. Once the money is received, the recipient is untraceable. So is your rental.

Gift cards are another money transfer scam, usually for rental “deposits”.  Sometimes you’re asked to buy two or more cards to make up the “deposit” total. Once the scammer gets the gift card numbers and PINs, he or she disappears.

Hotel Credit Card Scam

Credit card scam:  This scam can occur even in the most reputable hotel,  which is why some are fooled. Here’s how it works:

Within an hour after checking into your room, you get a call from the ‘front desk’ asking to verify your credit card information. If this happens to you, tell the caller that you’ll go down to the front desk to verify the information in person, then hang up. The scammer won’t call again.

Want more travel info?  Check out Senior Planet’s new Travel Page, with resources, tips and a fun program for armchair travelers!  

Foreign Travel Scams

Documents: By-pass websites that charge fees to get an international travel visa, passport or other travel document. Instead, go directly to the U.S. Department of State; fees range from free to nominal. (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html).

International driving permit scams:  An International Drivers Permit (IDP) allows you to drive in another country as long as you have a valid license issued by your state. It’s also recognized as I.D. in over 150 countries and by many major car rental companies. Learn how to get an IDP here.

If you buy an IDP from one of the scam websites, you could face travel delays, even legal problems if, for some reason, you’re found to be using the worthless document abroad.

Currency short-changing:  Make it a point to get to know the value of the bills in the countries you’re visiting. Dishonest merchants may take advantage of your unfamiliarity to give you the wrong change.

Paying for goods:  Some merchants want to bill your credit card in U.S. dollars. Decline: the dollar exchange rate is likely to be unfavorable.  Instead, pay credit cards in the local currency. Your card may charge a fee, but the bite is likely to be less than the amount the currency exchange counter takes.

Want more travel scams information? Check out the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoid-scams-when-you-travel

Nona Aguilar is an award-winning writer of numerous magazine articles and two books. She has also edited four specialty business newsletter publications. Her work has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Family Circle and Cosmopolitan, and in The Business Owner.