MARLBOROUGH, MA — With summer in full swing, many New Englanders may be dreaming about last-minute getaways. Better Business Bureau Serving E. MA, ME, RI & VT (BBB) warns travelers to be aware of vacation scams that could wreak havoc with plans.
In the past year, consumers reported over 255 instances of travel and vacation scams through BBB’s Scam Tracker. Consumers reported losses of nearly $300,000 associated with these scams.
BBB has received reports of scammers sending direct mail offers for cruises and trips including lookalike boarding passes and travel checks. Other offers include free airfare and destination vacations by calling a 1-800 number. BBB says beware of slick pitches, hidden fees, and potential shady experiences even though the images look lovely.
One consumer’s story involved receiving a fax and an email at work from the HR Department. “This email claimed that the company was selected to try out a new program through TripAdvisor that would include a 5 day/4 night stay in an all-inclusive resort in Mexico or surrounding countries, plus a 3 day/ 2 night vacation in either Vegas or Orlando. To participate, you had to call in, and the first 500 callers received “up to 60% off flights.” Our friend called in to reserve a spot, and called us asking us to join them on vacation to Costa Rica. We paid $350 to our friend, who paid $700 upfront to reserve our spot.”
When the consumer called in, “the agent told us that our dates were booked at the resort and to call back the next week to book our flights. Well, next week comes, and we call and email, trying to get our flights booked, with no response. Sometimes we would get other agents to answer us, who would say that our agent was busy on the phone or not in that day. Fast forward a month, we call the hotel to make sure that we do have a reservation for those dates, and they tell us that they have no record of a booking at their hotel. We also still do not have flights. Our agent still never responds to us.”
To avoid a vacation scam this summer, BBB offers the following tips for last-minute getaways:
- Be wary of claims that you “won a trip.” Typically, if you’ve truly won something, it will be given to you as a gift with no hidden fees. Be especially leery if the offer is unsolicited. Check on any offers with your local BBB first.
- Book through a reliable travel agent. Find BBB Accredited travel agencies with BBB’s Accredited Business Directory. BBB Accredited Businesses must adhere to BBB’s Standards of Trust, which include advertising honestly, being transparent and honoring promises.
- Use caution when considering deals. If a vacation package offers a lot for a very low price, be wary. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.
- Get details about your trip in writing. Confirm details such as total cost, extra fees, any applicable restrictions, flights, hotel reservations and car rental information. Keep written information and take copies with you on your trip.
- Use a credit card to pay. This offers the most protection should something go wrong. Read all receipts, credit card statements and bank statements to make sure there were no hidden charges.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance. Circumstances could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. Travel insurance may provide the extra protection you need. Be sure to shop around and read the terms and conditions.
If you’re interested in a vacation rental, beware of scammers who create online listings with photos of homes that aren’t available or are owned by someone else. Phony landlords collect an advance deposit, then avoid contact with renters, who may be left with nothing but a fake reservation or a rental that doesn’t resemble the photos in the online listing.
BBB offers the following tips when booking vacation rentals:
- Do your research. Check that the property address really exists. If the rental is in a resort, call the office and confirm the location of the property and other details. Research the owner of any vacation rental by searching for their name or address online, and especially look to see if you can find online reviews or evidence of complaints.
- Get it in writing. Ask for a copy of the rental contract and read it before you pay a deposit. Be aware of cancellation and refund policies. Be sure to confirm if there are there security deposits or cleaning fees.
- Check for extras. Some hotels and resorts charge extra fees for services like fitness centers or Internet access. Ask whether these are included in the rental rate or if they will be added when you check out.
- Pay with credit. Use a credit card to pay for a deposit or reservation in case you need to challenge the charge later. Ask whether you will be charged for the entire amount upfront or for the first night only.
For more information and tips on planning a vacation, visit us at bbb.org/boston or like us on Facebook.
ABOUT BBB
For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses and brands they can trust. In 2015, people turned to BBB more than 172 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 5.3 million businesses, all available for free at bbb.org.
The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for the local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national and international programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation. BBB Serving Eastern Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island and Vermont was founded in 1920.
(NOTE: The above press release is from the BBB.)
Like Wilmington Apple on Facebook. Follow Wilmington Apple on Twitter. Subscribe to Wilmington Apple’s daily email newsletter HERE. Got a comment, question, photo, press release, or news tip? Email wilmingtonapple@gmail.com.
Wilmington Apple 