Planning a vacation? Protect your identity and your wallet!

Identity Theft No Comments

Are you going on vacation this summer? 

It’s prime vacation time in the United States, and alongside 100 million other Americans, you’re probably excited to rest and relax with your loved ones.  

With the allure of fun in the sun, it may be tempting to quickly book a hotel or pay for an unofficial tour, but sometimes your eagerness can result in unintended consequences for your wallet.  Follow these guidelines to protect your money from vacation fraud.

Verify your hotel or rental 

 

  • Make sure there are payment and refund policies written into the contract. 
  • Do not pay outside of the official rental website or platform. 
  • Carefully inspect pictures and maps of the area before you book. 
  • Pay by credit card.  You can dispute the charges with your credit card company if the hotel or rental isn’t what you purchased. 

Verify your travel information

 

  • Book through a known carrier on an official company website. 
  • If booking through a travel agency, make sure your flights are real.  You can check your flights against the airline’s website, or if you have booked a chartered flight, you can check against this U.S. Department of Transportation List. 
  • Check all cancellation policies. 

Get travel insurance

 
Travel insurance may cover many unexpected costs, such as those incurred by delays in flights and lost baggage.  Travel insurance may even cover medical emergencies.  Make sure to carefully read your policy prior to purchase.

If you think you are being scammed, check out these warning signs.

Vacation scammers promise free or low-cost vacations via text, phone call, ad, fax, or mail.  Sometimes, these offers do result in real vacations, but they come with lots of costly hidden fees.  Other times, they are completely fake, and you’ll lose your money.  These scams could even be a ploy to get your credit card information, and you could become the victim of identity theft.  

Are you worried that you’re being scammed?  Here are the most common signs that you’re dealing with a vacation scammer:

  • You won a free vacation, but you are required to pay fees or provide your credit card number to claim the prize. 
  • You get a text or phone number without having any prior contact with the company. 
  • They can’t provide detailed information on your accommodations or activities.
  • You receive a robocall about a prize or travel offer. 

Have you been scammed?

In addition to ruining your time with your family, vacation scams can wreak havoc on your credit and wallet. The Consumer Law Firm of Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C. can help you with any problems associated with vacation scams, including robocalls and identity theft. Give Francis Mailman Soumilas, P.C. a call today at 1-877-735-8600 or fill out our online form for a free case review today.  If we decide to take your case, you pay nothing out of pocket.