One of the unfortunate repercussions of the recession is that more people are using the Internet to scam hardworking people out of their money. This time of year, a number of questionable web sites based on holiday travel deals are causing a lot of problems for people who simply want to enjoy some time away from home. Fortunately, there are a few warning signs that may indicate the site is not legitimate and should be avoided.
First, never do business with an online travel service that does not provide contact data you can verify. This means the telephone number and address must be easily found on the site and equally as easy to confirm through other means. If the site does not provide this basic detail and uses only email communication, take your business elsewhere.
Second, verify the existence of the holiday accommodations the site offers. One common approach is to offer a purported lodging that has a verifiable street in the address, but a lot or house number that does not exist. Attempt to contact the supposed destination personally and verify it is real and that they do business with the site where you found them.
Last, beware of any holiday travel packages that seem too good to be true. IN most cases, the deal is exactly that. Even if the package is to a resort or other lodgings that is real, you may find some hidden fees that apply once you get to your destination.
Since the bogus travel sites come and go quickly, it is often helpful to research the URL connected to the site. If the web address is of recent vintage and it is hard to determine who owns the address, that is a sign that something is amiss. An established travel agency is likely to have had a web presence for several years and will also not block owner information from view.
For your safety, always to business with local or online travel agencies that provide proper contact information, have a good reputation and have been around long enough to indicate they are stable and legitimate. Doing so will go a long way toward making your holiday safe and a lot of fun.
Tags: Holidays, Internet Crime., Travel Scams
