BBB warns: 3 travel scams targeting holiday, summer planners now

Planning a last minute holiday trip or thinking about summer travel? 

Scammers are waiting!  The Better Business Bureau is warning about three vacation scams we’re seeing right now: 

No-Name Travel Sites

If you’re searching for low cost travel online, beware of social ads and online searches leading to unfamiliar sites. 

BBB Scam Tracker shows a Phoenix woman booked a flight through a third party online. A week before her trip, she didn’t have confirmation of her ticket purchase. She called and was told the flight had been cancelled. Her only option was to buy another more expensive ticket. She demanded a refund, did not get it and is out $208.

Some scam sites use names similar to legitimate travel businesses. Look carefully before you click. Stick with sites you know or have reviewed.

Fake Customer Service 

Don’t trust what shows up at the top of voice and online searches for customer service. 

BBB is getting complaints about people ending up on soundalike scam sites. 

A Prescott man thought he was talking to a United Airlines representative. He didn’t know it at the time but had actually called a customer service number one digit off from United’s real phone number. 

The fake rep demanded more money to rebook flights the man had already bought. 

In the end, his flights had been canceled and he lost $1,400.

Scammers have found words to use and ways to get their fake sites seen at the top of searches. You must check the web address before blindly going there. 

The safest way to contact a business is through your account.Contacting a business through your account is the safest way

Bogus Vacation Rentals

You find a rental home listing, pay in advance and show up for your vacation. Only then, do you realize the house was never for rent and your money is gone.  The scam is even happening on well-known rental booking sites! 

Before you book a vacation rental, check hosts for good reviews and how long they’ve been renting. If there are no reviews, it’s a red flag.

Do not be lured off the original site to pay or chat.

Beware of prices that are much lower than other similar listings.

And always pay with a credit card. It offers protections that a cash app will not give you.

Whatever you’re booking for vacation, always check reviews and complaints online and at bbb.org.

We hope your travels are safe and scam free!