| Many con artists snare their marks by promising huge | | | | bank account number, a scam artist can even |
| discounts that sound plausible, particularly since many | | | | transfer funds directly from your account.- The seller |
| travel suppliers today offer booking bargains and | | | | tells you that you just won a prize or a trip in a |
| last-minute deals to recover sales lost after the | | | | contest that is news to you. If you can't remember |
| September 11 tragedies. The following red flags show | | | | registering for a sweepstake, you probably didn't. |
| that you've been targeted by a travel scam artist.- | | | | The promised trip is most likely a fraud or at the |
| The seller will not give you anything in writing | | | | very least a gimmick with a ton of hidden costs and |
| describing the trip until you have paid up front. | | | | or restrictions.- The seller says that you can claim |
| Always insist on material in the mail before you pay a | | | | your prize by paying a small administrative fee. A |
| dime, in deposits, fees, or charges of any kind. | | | | reputable contest or sweepstake will never require |
| Absolutely refuse to pay any money at all to a travel | | | | you to pay a fee to collect a prize. In fact, many |
| seller before you have this material in hand. Ask them | | | | states prohibit this by law. Refuse to pay any |
| to send complete details on the trip, including total | | | | amount of money to collect any prize or trip. If you |
| price, service charges, processing fees, surcharges | | | | have to pay for it, it's not much of a prize, is it?- The |
| and any other hidden or undisclosed fees or charges, | | | | seller asks you to make a bank transfer, send a |
| the components of the trip (particularly the specific | | | | certified check or money order, or prepare a check |
| hotels, airline flights, cruise ships and other services | | | | to be picked up by a courier. By using cash |
| involved) and penalties for canceling or changing the | | | | equivalents or receiving funds using delivery methods |
| trip plans and "blackout dates"- The seller pressures | | | | other than the U.S. Postal Service, scam artists are |
| you to make an immediate decision. Always refuse | | | | trying to take advantage of perceived loopholes in |
| any high-pressure sales pitches that prevent you | | | | federal regulations prohibiting fraud via phone and |
| from shopping around with other travel retailers.- The | | | | mail.- You cannot book the deal through any other |
| seller asks for your credit card number or bank | | | | travel retailer. If you are told that you have to |
| account number over the phone. Never give out this | | | | purchase the package directly from the seller - that |
| kind of information over the phone unless you called | | | | the deal is so good you can't buy it anywhere else - |
| the travel retailer yourself, you know the retailer and | | | | odds are something isn't on the level.Though this is |
| you are completely confident in the company. All it | | | | not an exhaustive list, these are some of the major |
| takes is your credit card number and expiration date | | | | Red Flags to look for when offered what seems to |
| for the most inexperienced scam artist to make | | | | be a great deal. Keep your eyes open, because |
| fraudulent charges on your credit card and with your | | | | believe me, they are looking for you. |