Scammers are a lot of things: Cruel, insidious and greedy. One thing they are not? Dumb.
Scammers keep getting more creative, and consumers like us must constantly update our knowledge on how to avoid these scams — especially when it comes to travel!
One relatively new scam involves scammers selling you what you think is a legit ticket, which later turns out to be only a reservation.
A new travel scam to watch for
Here’s how it works: You search for airline tickets online or reply to a scam email. Overwhelmed by all the sites and apps (find the 10 best ones here!), you choose what seems like a trustworthy source and contact them.
They promise they can get you a great rate on a ticket and take down all your particulars: Name, phone number and more. Then you pay for the ticket. (Payment may also be asked for at a later date.)
Using your information, they book what you think is a confirmed seat and claim that you’re all set.
Thinking you’re doing due diligence, you visit the airline’s main site, enter your information and boom — there’s your reserved seat. You pat yourself on the back for saving money and consider your travel booked.
Two weeks later, the reserved hold runs out and your seat evaporates. You find this out and try to get help from the airline. Usually, they can do nothing for you since only a reservation was actually booked.
Hopefully, you find this out long before standing at an airport customer service counter, suitcase in hand! Either way, you don’t have an airline ticket and have been scammed out of the money.
Side note: With all the planning, thinking and hours of work they must put into their elaborate scams, you wonder why they just refuse to get a real job. Scamming is a cruel, lazy way to make a living.
Outsmarting the thieves
The good news is that you can avoid these scams with forethought and education. For example, to prevent this reservation scam, you can do things like:
- Don’t pay until you see a confirmation number or e-Ticket number. Anything else could just be a reservation.
- Whenever possible, book directly from the airline’s website. You may not get the lowest price, but if you sign up for their frequent flyer program, you can at least get points!
- If you contact the airline to verify a third-party ticket, talk directly to a customer service agent and make sure the ticket is confirmed, not just reserved.
- And one last online booking tip — if it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
How to spot fake travel sites
Crooks are great at creating fake apps and sites to rip you off. Fortunately, there are signs to watch for that can help to avoid them.
- Check official resources: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) can be a great aid to check if a business is legit. The agency lists real companies and if you can’t find the one you’re working with, it’s best to run away.
- Online reviews and ratings: Read online reviews and ratings on sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp or Google. Keep in mind that extremely positive and negative reviews could be bogus. Watch for a balance of reviews and consistent themes.
- Accreditation and licensing: Many legitimate travel agencies are members of recognized industry organizations like the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) or have accreditation from IATA (International Air Transport Association). Check for credentials on their site.
- Transparent pricing: Legitimate sites are clear and upfront about all costs. Beware of sites that have hidden fees or don’t clearly explain costs.
- Secure payment options: Reputable travel sites offer secure, well-known payment options. Be wary of sites that only allow bank transfers or money orders. A relatively new red flag is if a company only accepts cryptocurrency as payment. Don’t do it!
Getting personal
We’re so wary of online scammers that sometimes we forget to protect ourselves from the live person scammer. The ones that overcharge you for taxi rides are just one example.
Other common in-person scams include:
- Fake petitioners: If someone approaches you to sign a petition, walk away. If you take time to sign, they might demand cash donations or worse — an accomplice might pick your pocket while you’re distracted.
- The bad samaritan: If someone offers to help you with your bag, resist the urge to be polite and let them. They could be a pickpocket, or they can quickly hand your bag off to a runner, who takes off with your bag. Say no. Firmly.
- ATM card swipers: Always use reputable banks when taking out cash. Some off-the-beaten-path ATMs might have a false front installed, ready to steal your number when you swipe. When in doubt, give the reader a bit of a shake to see if it feels like an add-on.
But don’t let any of these scams prevent you from traveling. It’s a big, beautiful world out there! You just need to travel it with your eyes open. So keep educating yourself and read on about other common flight scams.