Every new season, occasion, holiday, natural disaster, etc., scammers work hard. The holiday seasons are one of their favorite times to pounce.
Some in-person criminals might spy on your absence and break in. Take steps to make sure your home is not a target.
Most cyber crimes target you when planning and paying for your trip. Buying a plane ticket for a trip in late summer or fall? Arm yourself with technical advice to make your trip easier and cheaper.
While you’re at it, here’s a new scam to watch out for: A “travel agency” or travel site selling fake airline tickets. I have the details on how it works and how to protect against this predatory scheme.
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A naughty trick
Here’s how it works. You are looking for tickets online or responding to a fraudulent email. Overwhelmed by all the travel sites and apps, you choose what seems to be a reliable source with unbeatable prices.
You may end up emailing, chatting, or talking to someone who promises to get you a great rate on a ticket. You provide your name, phone number and payment information. Using your information, they reserve what you think is a confirmed seat and say you are good to go.
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You, the savvy buyer, go to the airline’s website and enter the flight information. You see your seat, congratulate yourself on saving money, and consider your trip booked.
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Then comes the surprise
You check in for your flight and your ticket cannot be found. This is because the scammer reserved a seat instead of booking a ticket. There is nothing the airline can do for you at this point.
Airlines are also short pilots. With a staff shortage of this magnitude, airlines are forced to cancel thousands of flights. (Stock)
I hope you find out long before you show up at the customer service counter at an airport, suitcase in hand! Either way, you’ve run out of money and plane tickets.
Outsmart the crook
How do you protect yourself from this scam and all the other nasty travel tricks? For starters, use this bit of wisdom to serve you well in any scenario: if you find an offer too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.
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- Do not pay until you see a confirmation number or e-ticket number. Everything else could just be a reservation, and it’s not a confirmed ticket.
- Book directly on the airline’s website for added security. You might not get the lowest price, but hey, at least you can get loyalty points.
- If you’re worried about a ticket, contact the airline’s customer service department directly. Do not call the travel agency’s booking site. Make sure the ticket is confirmednot just reserved.
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How to Spot Fake Travel Sites
It’s far from the only scam in town. Scammers are good at creating fake apps and sites to scam you. Fortunately, there are signs to look out for that can help avoid them.
- Consult the official resources: The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a great place to start. The agency lists real companies; if you can’t find the one you’re working with, leave.
- Online reviews and ratings: Read online reviews and ratings on sites like TripAdvisor, Yelp, or Google. Keep in mind that overwhelmingly positive and negative reviews can be fake. Monitor the balance of reviews and consistent themes.
- Accreditation and License: Many legitimate travel agencies are members of recognized industry organizations like the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) or are accredited by IATA (International Air Transport Association). Check the credentials on their site.
- Transparent pricing: Legitimate sites are clear and upfront about all costs. Beware of sites that have hidden fees or don’t clearly explain what you’re paying for and why.
- Secure payment methods: Reputable travel sites use secure and well-known payment options. Beware of sites that only allow bank transfers or money orders. A relatively new red flag is if a business only accepts cryptocurrency as payment. Don’t !
Shot of concentrated young businesswoman working with computer in office. (Stock)
Keep your technological know-how
My popular podcast is called “Kim Komando Today”. It’s a solid 30 minutes of tech news, tips, and callers with tech questions like you from across the country. Look for it wherever you get your podcasts. For your convenience, click the link below for a recent episode.
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Additionally, Google is updating what it can collect about you online to improve its AI capabilities. I’m chatting with a guy who needs a new payment processing solution for his Christian networking group. Colleagues engaging in explicit messages, ChatGPT celebrating a wedding, and tips for getting rid of an old phone.
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