WICHITA FALLS, Texas (KAUZ) – Summer is rapidly approaching, which means vacation planning is in full swing. The Better Business Bureau has created a list of the top three vacation scams you should watch out for when making your itinerary.
Vacation Rental Cons: Look out for listings for properties that either aren’t for rent, don’t exist, or are significantly different than pictured. If you’re not using a service that verifies properties and owners, don’t negotiate a rental solely by email. Speak with the owner on the phone and ask detailed questions about the property and local attractions. An owner with vague answers is a clear red flag.
“Free” Vacation Scams: When a cruise or travel company advertises a vacation as “free,” it doesn’t necessarily mean the trip is entirely without cost or restrictions. If you are told that you’ve won a trip without actually entering a contest, be very suspicious. If you are pressured to accept the offer now or it’s gone forever, walk away.
Hotel Scams: When staying in a hotel, watch out for fake front desk calls. Scammers may call late at night pretending to be the front desk, claiming there is a problem with the card on file and asking the traveler to “re-verify” the credit card information. Another hotel scam includes fake food delivery, where scammers distribute fake menus to hotel rooms. When a traveler calls the phone number and orders delivery, they collect the credit card information and never deliver the…
