How to Avoid Scams During Travel Bookings

January 23, 2024, 02:48 PM
by Shahriar Rabab

UNB News
Publish- January 23, 2024, 02:48 PM
Shahriar Rabab
Update- January 23, 2024, 03:16 PM

How to Avoid Scams During Travel Bookings

Representational image: FreePik

There is a saying that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. As electronic and social media have made advertisements easier than ever, there is a growing number of scams, especially leveraging the tourism industry. Here’s what one should keep in mind to avoid scams while booking for travel at home or abroad.

Ways to Avoid Scams while Doing Travel Bookings

Check for Website Authenticity

Website authenticity is the first and foremost way to avoid travel booking scams.

What’s the typical process people follow for booking? They go to Google and type in their keywords like ‘7 days vacation package to (desired destination)’.

Many fake websites leverage these keywords and advertise on search engines. As a result, they tend to show up at the top of the search results. Fortunately, one can easily check where there is an “AD” mark next to the website link.

There are several ways to check an authentic site. An efficient approach would be to check for the Domain Authority (DA) using free online tools. It is better to avoid sites with lower DA scores.

Avoid Too Good to Be True Offers

Data harvesting and tracking is another way scammers target tourists and travelers. The moment you put in a keyword in a search bar regarding a booking, you will notice enticing offers showing up regarding that destination. Most of these ads often sound too good to be true. And in almost all the cases, they are.

As a precautionary measure, always double-check the offer on the website. Check for website authority to ensure that the displayed offers are indeed legit.

Double Check on the Payment

There are two warning signs of scams when it comes to payment – lack of encryption and guiding users to a different landing page. A legit travel booking site will have the necessary SSL encryption which shows up as a keypad lock right after the https in the address bar. Scam websites don’t have those.

Some scammers have legit-looking websites for information and pricing but would take the users to a different domain for payment. Users should be wary of those sites as well.

Representational image: FreePik

Avoid Wire Transfer

It's best to avoid wire transfers using bank credentials or a debit card. For booking, always try to use credit cards as most banks invalidate the transaction in case of fraudulent purchases. That is, if the booking turns out to be a scam, your money is protected.

It’s also a sign of a scam if a booking site insists on wire transfers rather than the use of credit cards.

Reconfirm the Booking

Sometimes scammers replicate trusted websites and take the booking through promotional campaigns of lucrative offers. While it's paramount to be wary of lucrative offers, many legit booking sites run promotional campaigns which can be a pretty good deal.

As a rule of thumb, tourists should always reconfirm the booking through telephone. They need to make sure to use the telephone number provided on the authentic website and not on the promotional offers.

Check Reviews

Unsure whether a booking site is legit or a scam? The best way to find out is to check for reviews. Many booking sites have their own dedicated review space. But let’s be honest, there’s no guarantee whether those reviews are legit or not.

The best approach would be to check independent third-party review websites like Trustpilot, Yelp, and Reviewsnap. Tourists can also look for reviews of certain travel companies, hotels, or booking agencies on social networking sites like Quora, Reddit, etc. These websites will give a better idea of whether a website is a scam or not.

Representational image: FreePik

Check for Hidden Fees

Another form of booking scam is the hidden charges. Sometimes even legit sites will put in a lucrative offer. However, the reduced price is often compensated through hidden charges. Booking sites are often pretty good at hiding them.

As per the law, the sites are obligated to provide a complete breakdown of the charges. Check the breakdown before making any payment. Hidden fees are designated under an inflated service charge or processing fee. So the tourists should check whether those fees are higher than normal prices.

Avoid Rushing

Any scam booking site would want to close the deal as fast as possible. Because the payment is the last hurdle to scam. Spam mails that have an urgent tone to them or booking sites that have a call to action now and then may turn out to be scams.

The scammers in these cases bank on people’s hesitancy. They aim to create a sense of urgency through limited time or limited booking tropes. To avoid such scams, always plan ahead and thoroughly check before making any transactions.

Consider Getting a Travel Agent

This is a more traditional and uncommon method to avoid scams. With exciting deals and numerous booking websites, people are comfortable making their plans and itineraries. But that also makes a person potentially vulnerable to scams.

A dedicated travel agent might be a great alternative if you want to avoid the hassle of vetting and double-checking everything personally. Though there might be some additional charges as travel agent fees.

Representational image: FreePik

Be Wary of Unsolicited Mails and Cold Calls

Phishing emails and cold calls are tried and tested methods when it comes to scamming. There was a time when spam mail scams were easily identifiable as they couldn’t identify the personnel by name. But now even that is possible with data harvesting.

The best approach to unsolicited emails and cold calls would be to confirm the offers on the official website or through a telephone number provided on the website. Under no circumstances use the information or links provided via email.

Final Words

Travelling is a passion for many. However, to avoid scams, tourists need to be careful while booking their flights and accommodation online. In this day and age of AI and advanced deepfakes, it is possible to replicate anything and everything as legit. Scammers often target non-tech-savvy people and use different tropes for booking scams. The best way to avoid these scams would be to stay alert and double-check everything. And always opt for trusted services, or hire a reliable travel agent even if it costs a few extra bucks.