Four scams that will ruin holiday plans | Better Business Bureau

With so many Washingtonians planning out-of-state trips over the next few weeks, Better Business Bureau warns holiday travelers to be on the lookout for common scams aimed at stealing someone's money and identity.

November 20, 2015 2:35 pm

With so many Washingtonians planning out-of-state trips over the next few weeks, Better Business Bureau warns holiday travelers to be on the lookout for common scams aimed at stealing someone’s money and identity.

According to AAA, nearly 46.9 Americans will travel over 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving weekend, increasing the opportunity for fraudsters to target unsuspecting travelers.

Before booking the next big trip, BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington warns vacation goers to watch for these four costly travel scams:

  • Fake Travel Websites: Beware of look-alike websites when making hotel and airplane reservations. Book directly with the hotel, airline or reseller’s website. Otherwise scammers can steal your personal and credit card information and leave you without a place to stay.
  • Bogus Wi-Fi hubs: Never use public Wi-Fi, including hotel internet access, for online banking or other financial account management. Fraudsters can easily create fake Wi-Fi hubs, then gain access to personal information and passwords.
  • Slick Hotel Tricks: Even after hotel guests arrive in their rooms, scammers will easily fool victims by calling and claiming to be the front desk asking to verify information. Never give out credit card numbers or personal data over the phone. Instead, visit hotel management in person.
  • Vacation Rentals: Watch for fake rental listings and too good to be true vacation packages. Scammers can easily hijack legitimate online listings and make it look like their own. Deal directly with the property owner or manager and be sure to verify that the property actually exists by researching online.

Remember, do not post travel photos while on vacation if your home will be unoccupied. That is a red flag to burglars. Carry just needed credit cards, identification and insurance cards in your wallet while traveling. And, notify your credit card companies of the dates and destinations, especially if traveling internationally.

Do your research, be vigilant about possible fraud and then, enjoy your vacation! For BBB Business and Customer Reviews from a Brand you Trust, go to bbb.org.