Scammers stand ready to ruin your vacation, so take precautions

Spring is already here and summer will be approaching quickly. This is the perfect time to begin your vacation planning for 2024. Most Americans go on a summer vacation and this year is expected to be in high demand for traveling. According to Forbes, 92% of travelers expect to travel at least as much in 2024 as they did in the prior year. If you’re looking to book your vacation this summer, be sure to plan ahead.

While vacationing is relaxing, there’s always a chance of being scammed. According to the Federal Trade Commission, in 2023, U.S. consumers reported over $265,140 lost to travel scams and travel-related fraud cost U.S. consumers $105.1 million in losses. Most of the scams seem to increase in travel seasons, such as spring break, holidays and summer. Don’t let these scammers stop you from traveling. There are plenty of ways to prepare and watch out for red flags.

To help you plan a vacation this year, the Better Business Bureau offers these tips:

■ Check reviews, websites and past tourists’ experiences.

■ Ask family and friends for recommendations.

■ Consider hiring a travel agent. They also offer advice on destinations, plan trip itineraries and make travel arrangements for clients.

■ Book hotels, flights and excursions as soon as possible. The earlier reservations are made, the better the deals and the lower the risk of them being sold out.

■ Avoid broad internet searches, such as ‘best deals’ as it can bring up websites looking official, but are ultimately scammers.

■ Beware of phone calls or letters claiming a “free trip” or websites offering too-good-tobe-true prices.

■ Get all trip details in writing, including the total cost, restrictions, names of the airlines and hotels, as well as cancellation and refund policies.

■ Consider purchasing travel insurance which covers things like trip cancellations or medical emergencies. Always read the fine print to see what’s covered and what’s not.

■ Pay with a credit card. Paying with a credit card provides additional protection if something should go wrong with the travel reservation.

■ Let your bank and credit card companies know you’ll be traveling.

■ Don’t use public Wi-Fi to access sensitive accounts. Consider using a virtual private network (VPN) or a personal hotspot if you need a more secure connection.

■ Place a hold on your mail while away, so mail with account information isn’t piling up.

■ Take extra precautions by waiting to post on social media when you return, sharing a copy of the itinerary with a family member or close friend, checking the weather conditions where you’ll be traveling, avoiding traveling alone and using a hotel safe to store extra cash and valuables. If you believe you’re a victim of a vacation scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker at BBB. org/ScamTracker. For more information about traveling, visit bbb.org/all/travel-leisure or call 937-222-5825 or 800-776-5301.