Editor’s Note:
The Better Business Bureau offers great tips in this blog post for people who like to plan their own vacations, and there are plenty of you out there. But if you aren’t into planning a major trip yourself, then a reputable travel agent, like Your Getaway Guru columnist Kathy Yarian — (who wrote the following column for Thrive and contributes to the magazine) — can’t be beat. A good travel agent will make sure your trip is as hassle-free as possible. And if something does go wrong, there’s a friendly voice on the other end of the line when you’ve missed the train in France or your hotel tries to off-load you to a dump.
-Marie Elium
Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
Summer is finally here, and for many older adults, it’s the perfect time to check off a bucket list destination, visit family or relax on a sunny beach. Planning a vacation should be filled with excitement, but unfortunately, scammers view peak travel season as their prime opportunity to strike.
At BBB Cleveland, we want to ensure your hard-earned vacation doesn’t turn into a costly headache. Fraudsters are becoming increasingly sophisticated, creating high-quality fake websites and utilizing high-pressure tactics that look remarkably legitimate.
When looking for flights or lodging, typing generic phrases like “best vacation deals” or “cheap hotel rooms” into search engines can inadvertently lead you to sponsored ads or misleading websites designed solely to steal your information.
Avoid Generic Searches: Go directly to an official airline, hotel, or established booking websites instead of making generic searches.
Say No to Urgency: Scammers rely on pressure tactics, claiming a deal is “only available for the next hour” or that “rooms are selling out fast.” Legitimate businesses will never pressure you into an immediate financial decision.
Get Everything in Writing: Before handing over money, ensure you receive a clear, written itinerary outlining total costs, hidden fees, cancellation policies, and refund restrictions. It is a major red flag if a company avoids providing written terms.
Pay Safely: Always use a credit card, which provides vital consumer fraud protections to dispute unauthorized charges. Never use wire transfers, prepaid gift cards, or peer-to-peer payment apps, as these methods make recovering your money nearly impossible.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it to the BBB Scam Tracker. Your report helps us build consumer awareness and reduce the effectiveness of scammers’ favorite tactics. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216-241-7678 or [email protected].
