Consumers lose $12 billion each year in travel deals that go sour, and a large part of the problem involves bogus free vacations.
In one scam, you fill out a postcard at a shopping mall or convenience store touting a free trip. A phone solicitor later tries to cajole you into making a deposit on the free trip, which never pans out-and you never get your deposit back. Another common scheme involves “free airfare to Hawaii” certificates. You aren’t told that you’ll be charged a superinflated price for the hotel.
Another favorite: You get a call or a postcard suggesting you can “win” a cruise to the Bahamas or a three-night vacation in Florida for, say, $50.
All you have to do is visit the travel company’s office at a prearranged time to pick up the “prize.” Instead, you’re subjected to a high-pressure sales pitch for timeshares.
Trips you “win” in a contest sponsored by a well-known national retailer are not immune from misrepresentation.
To determine whether an offer is fraudulent, ask yourself the following five questions:
– Does the telemarketer say you were awarded the trip?
– Does he or she ask for your credit-card number?
– Does the caller want a deposit?
– Does he or she ask you to make a decision right away and refuse to send you any written material?
– Do you have to wait an unusually long time before taking the trip?
If the answer to any question is yes, the offer is suspect. Call the National Fraud Information Center at 800-876-7060 for more information.
