tourism and travel show legit

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Anyone else receive a 2023 Leisure & Tourism Show invitation? Sounds like scam to me

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Travel and Cruise Showcase 2023 scam?

By Cruise till you drop , June 6, 2023 in Ask a Cruise Question

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Cruise till you drop

Did anyone else get a mailer that gives you complimentary cruise and airfare if you attend this event?

It sounds like a scam but wanted to get others thoughts or experiences 

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Meander Ingwa

check out Scam Pulse it shows up there.  

53 minutes ago, Meander Ingwa said: check out Scam Pulse it shows up there.  

Thanks but I’ve looked at all the categories and can’t find a thread called Scam Pulse

Can you direct me a little closer

9 minutes ago, Cruise till you drop said: Thanks but I’ve looked at all the categories and can’t find a thread called Scam Pulse   Can you direct me a little closer

It's a website. Type scam pulse into Google and it comes right up.

1 hour ago, mom says said: It's a website. Type scam pulse into Google and it comes right up.

Actually I’d rather hear from Cruise Critic people.  I’m sure there are many things on cruise critic that can be found on other sites.

I googled scam pulse and read their reviews on trustpilot (which I have used before).  Personally, I think I'd take whet I read on scampulse with a grain of salt

edinburgher

Did anyone else get a mailer that gives you complimentary cruise and airfare if you attend this event   sounds like a scam but wanted to get others thoughts or experiences 

Absolutely no need to google or look at any other sites, as that age old saying springs to mind.

IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE IT USUALLY IS.

19 hours ago, Cruise till you drop said: Did anyone else get a mailer that gives you complimentary cruise and airfare if you attend this event?   It sounds like a scam but wanted to get others thoughts or experiences 

I would also be skeptical (and was hoping you would get a response).  What was the event they wanted you to attend?  Are they still doing the time share stuff I wonder? 

SeaSickCecil

I'll help you out.  IT'S A SCAM!  I refer you to the top Google search from Talk of the Villages January 2023 ( retirement residences in Florida) where the exact same question was posted (was that you as well?) and responses were provided from people who had called the number, friends of theirs who had called/gone to the event etc.  It is a travel club and/or timeshare.  You will get no bargains out of it.  The 'free' tickets come with many many conditions including extra fees.  I would also suggest you go to Elliott.org or Christopher Elliott's social media pages where he has many articles on travel scams and timeshare scams.

If you're still thinking about this then the adage 'a fool and his money are soon parted' comes to mind.

Throw this flyer in the trash...do not pass go, do not collect anything....

You're welcome.

1 hour ago, SeaSickCecil said: I'll help you out.  IT'S A SCAM!  I refer you to the top Google search from Talk of the Villages January 2023 ( retirement residences in Florida) where the exact same question was posted (was that you as well?) and responses were provided from people who had called the number, friends of theirs who had called/gone to the event etc.  It is a travel club and/or timeshare.  You will get no bargains out of it.  The 'free' tickets come with many many conditions including extra fees.  I would also suggest you go to Elliott.org or Christopher Elliott's social media pages where he has many articles on travel scams and timeshare scams. If you're still thinking about this then the adage 'a fool and his money are soon parted' comes to mind. Throw this flyer in the trash...do not pass go, do not collect anything.... You're welcome.

Thank you and no, I have never posted about this before.

3 hours ago, ldubs said:   I would also be skeptical (and was hoping you would get a response).  What was the event they wanted you to attend?  Are they still doing the time share stuff I wonder? 

The details of the event were vague.  It indicated a local Marriott that would be hosting the event and a number to call for the event details all masked as Travel and Cruise Showcase 2023

Sounds fishy at best.

SPacificbound

They do them at Marriott locations here also, waste of time.

• 4 weeks later...

Here is it again in 2023. Does anyone have any new information about this Travel and Cruise offer yet?  

If something sounds too good to be true, it is.

I got the postcard in the mail today!  I'm considering going to the show to see what is offered just out of curiosity.  Original poster:  did you go to the show?

5 hours ago, the nurse said: I got the postcard in the mail today!  I'm considering going to the show to see what is offered just out of curiosity.  Original poster:  did you go to the show?

I did not as I’ve made it my life’s work to avoid these types of scams.  Please report back after you go to the show and tell us about it

Well, we decided to attend the Next Travel Destination show.  It was held in the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida.  16 of us were in attendance.  The Vice President of Marketing did the presentation.  It's a members only travel agency.  He claims that there are 3 million members.  The presentation lasted about an hour and then a salesperson came to each couple's table.  The cost of the Platinum Lifetime Membership started at $9,995 with annual dues of $199.  Our salesman, offered us multiple discounts with the final price being $3,500.  We didn't accept the offer, but at least two other couples did sign up.  This was truly a "no pressure to sign up" presentation.  We were in and out in less than 90 minutes with a handshake from the salesperson.

We were given a certificate for a 5 day Carnival cruise, or options for other vacation offers.

This needs to be filled out and sent to Customer Choice Rewards, in Tarpon Springs, FL, along with a self addressed stamped envelope.  

I'll keep you posted with the outcome!  I don't have high expectations for this working out, but I felt like it would be a good experiment.  Being retired, we have the time and we found out where the free bicycle rental place is in Punta Gorda!  This was a nice diversion from dealing with Hurricane Ian repairs at our home.  

2 hours ago, the nurse said: Well, we decided to attend the Next Travel Destination show.  It was held in the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Punta Gorda, Florida.  16 of us were in attendance.  The Vice President of Marketing did the presentation.  It's a members only travel agency.  He claims that there are 3 million members.  The presentation lasted about an hour and then a salesperson came to each couple's table.  The cost of the Platinum Lifetime Membership started at $9,995 with annual dues of $199.  Our salesman, offered us multiple discounts with the final price being $3,500.  We didn't accept the offer, but at least two other couples did sign up.  This was truly a "no pressure to sign up" presentation.  We were in and out in less than 90 minutes with a handshake from the salesperson. We were given a certificate for a 5 day Carnival cruise, or options for other vacation offers. This needs to be filled out and sent to Customer Choice Rewards, in Tarpon Springs, FL, along with a self addressed stamped envelope.   I'll keep you posted with the outcome!  I don't have high expectations for this working out, but I felt like it would be a good experiment.  Being retired, we have the time and we found out where the free bicycle rental place is in Punta Gorda!  This was a nice diversion from dealing with Hurricane Ian repairs at our home.      

Glad to hear it was no pressure and your invested time was minimal.  Not what I expected to hear.  Thanks for reporting back 

I received this invite in today's mail. My initial thought was that they got my name from some cruise data base, if such a data base even exists. The clincher for me was that both my last and first name were spelled incorrectly (in addition to my name or "current resident" invited)  so I know they didn't get it from some legit information that the cruise lines might sell.  Oh well, I was excited for at least a moment!

On 7/28/2023 at 12:27 PM, the nurse said:   We were given a certificate for a 5 day Carnival cruise, or options for other vacation offers .  

In this case, I think I would choose the latter.  

Reply to "The Nurse". We also attended a "presentation" and decided (barely) to pass. We were told our vouchers would come by email ("as it is not safe for us to carry them anymore"). Have yet to see anything. Did you get your vouchers at the presentation? Have you had a response yet?

Many years ago I did something similar and after paying a fee of @ $400 I did get a vacation as advertised and even got my money refundad after completing the trip!

1 hour ago, Dougm141 said: Reply to "The Nurse". We also attended a "presentation" and decided (barely) to pass. We were told our vouchers would come by email ("as it is not safe for us to carry them anymore"). Have yet to see anything. Did you get your vouchers at the presentation? Have you had a response yet? Many years ago I did something similar and after paying a fee of @ $400 I did get a vacation as advertised and even got my money refundad after completing the trip!

We mailed our certificate to Customer Choice Rewards, in Tarpon Springs, FL, along with a self addressed stamped envelope about 10 days ago.  No voucher yet.  🙂

Just got another one.  They are persistent 

When I read "....you will receive (2) two complimentary round trip airline vouchers" (Yea on what airline? AND "....valid for travel from most major international airports" Yea what airports? AND (In addition you will receive (2) two nights at one of over 1,000 Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt Hotels)......I said NO! We don't need to dilly dally on the phone with with these "MORONS" we have better things to do.

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Tourism and travel show 2023 scam.

If you love traveling, you are always on the lookout for new destinations and exciting experiences. Travel shows and exhibitions are a great way to learn about new places, discover travel trends, and meet fellow travelers. However, not all travel shows are created equal, and some may turn out to be scams that can ruin your travel plans and leave you out of pocket.

What is the Tourism and Travel Show 2023?

The Tourism and Travel Show 2023 is an event that is supposed to take place in several cities around the world, including London, New York, Dubai, and Singapore. The show promises to showcase the latest travel products and services, from airlines and hotels to tour operators and travel agencies. It also claims to offer networking opportunities for travel professionals and enthusiasts.

What’s the Scam?

The problem is that the Tourism and Travel Show 2023 seems to be a scam. There is no official website or social media presence for the event, and no reputable travel industry organization or media outlet has endorsed it. The organizers claim to be a company called “Global Tourism and Travel Expo,” but there is no record of such a company in any business directory or government database. The only information available about the event comes from a few poorly-designed websites that look suspicious and unprofessional.

How Does the Scam Work?

The Tourism and Travel Show 2023 scam works by luring unsuspecting travelers and travel professionals into paying for tickets, booths, or sponsorships for an event that does not exist. The organizers may use fake testimonials, logos, or photos to create the illusion of a legitimate event. They may also promise unrealistic benefits, such as guaranteed bookings or exclusive deals, to entice people to invest in the event. Once the money is transferred, the organizers may disappear without a trace, leaving their victims with no recourse.

How to Avoid the Scam?

If you want to attend a travel show or exhibition, do your research first. Check the official website of the event and verify its credibility by looking for endorsements from reputable travel industry associations or media outlets. Read reviews and feedback from previous attendees and exhibitors. If the event asks for payment in advance, make sure it offers secure and traceable payment methods, such as credit cards or PayPal. Don’t trust events that ask for payment in cash or wire transfer.

What to Do If You Fall for the Scam?

If you have already paid for tickets or booths for the Tourism and Travel Show 2023, or any other travel show that turned out to be a scam, don’t despair. Contact your credit card company or PayPal and dispute the charges. Provide evidence of the scam, such as emails, receipts, or screenshots. If you have wired money, contact your bank and report the fraud. You may also want to report the scam to your local consumer protection agency or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

Traveling is a wonderful experience that enriches our lives and broadens our horizons. However, it also comes with risks, such as scams and frauds. By being aware of the Tourism and Travel Show 2023 scam, and other travel scams, you can protect yourself and enjoy your travels with peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tourism and travel show 2023 a real event.

There is no evidence that the Tourism and Travel Show 2023 is a real event. The organizers have no official website or social media presence, and no reputable travel industry association or media outlet has endorsed it. It appears to be a scam.

How can I avoid travel scams?

You can avoid travel scams by doing your research, using secure payment methods, and being aware of common scam tactics. Check the credibility of travel shows and events before attending or investing in them. Prefer credit cards or PayPal over cash or wire transfer when paying for travel. Beware of unrealistic promises, such as guaranteed bookings or exclusive deals.

What should I do if I fall for a travel scam?

If you fall for a travel scam, contact your credit card company or PayPal and dispute the charges. Provide evidence of the scam, such as emails or receipts. If you have wired money, contact your bank and report the fraud. You may also want to report the scam to your local consumer protection agency or the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

14 Major Travel Scams to Avoid

On my first big trip abroad I got scammed twice on the same day.

My friend Scott and I had just arrived in Thailand . We were in Bangkok trying to find a boat cruise to take us up and down the Chao Phraya River. A taxi driver suggested this one company; we went there and found out that an hour-long tour was only $30 USD.

Not even thinking about whether that was a deal or not, we agreed. To us — still thinking about prices back home — that offer seemed like a fair price. It was only as the boat tour ended early that we realized we might have been ripped off (later on, we found out that we paid double the price).

Then, after lunch, we wandered over to the Grand Palace. When we got there, we didn’t see any crowds. We looked down the left side of the palace, then over to the right.

“Where is everyone?” I asked.

An enterprising tuk-tuk driver came over to us and told us the palace was closed for lunch. Scott and I looked at each other. Maybe that was right. After all, many museums sometimes do that, plus we didn’t see anyone around. It seemed feasible. He offered to take us to a few that were open.

“Sure,” we replied — and found ourselves visiting not only a few temples but also a suit shop, a gem shop, and a souvenir shop.

Afterward, he took us to the palace (which was unsurprisingly open). It was then we realized that it had never been closed — we had just been on the wrong side of the building.

We had been scammed.

My life as a traveler was not off to a good start.

Travel scams are real — and they vary from country to country. If you are carrying a travel guidebook , it will list the most common scams in that specific country.

To help you stay safe, today, I want to give you a list of common travel scams to avoid.

Avoiding travel scams requires a lot of common sense and a healthy dose of suspicion. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Here are some of the more universal scams you’ll want to avoid:

Table of Contents

1. The taxi overcharge

2. your accommodation is “closed”, 3. the shell game, 4. “come in for tea and help me write a letter”, 5. free bracelets/rosemary/anything they can put on you, 6. the spill on your clothes, 7. motorbike scam, 8. the flirtatious local, 9. your attraction is closed for lunch, 10. the “found” ring, 11. the fake petition, 12. the drug deal gone bad, 13. the wrong change, 14. the switcheroo, 15. the atm scam, 16. child & injured beggars, 17. fake wi-fi hub, 18. fake currency scam, stay protected on the road.

This is one of the most common travel scams out there. Either the driver will tell you the meter is broken and try to charge you a huge rate or you’ll see the meter go higher and faster than usual

To avoid this scam, first, you need to know how much a ride should cost. I always ask the hostel or hotel staff what a ride should be so I have a frame of reference.

Next, if the cabbie tries to negotiate the rate with me, I offer him the correct rate. If he refuses, I find someone who will put the meter on. If the meter seems to be going up too quickly, I have them pull over and I get out. Many tourism boards let you report bad cab drivers so be sure to always make a mental note of their ID number when you get in the cab.

When in doubt, ask your hostel/hotel staff to call a cab for you. They will know which companies are reputable.

And never get in an unlicensed cab — no matter how amazing the deal is!  

This is another cab-driver-related scam. In this scam, your driver will tell you your hotel or hostel is overbooked or even closed. It’s not. I mean, you wouldn’t have booked it if it was, right? Just ignore them and insist on going there. If they keep trying, continue to insist. They will usually shut up about it.

And while this seems like a scam no one could possibly fall for, people do. I’ve been in many cabs where they insist my hostel has been closed for months.

A note on taxis: In this smartphone era, we have our power back. We’re no longer helpless because we can look on a map and see the actual correct route. I like to look on Google Maps and see what the best route is. If it looks like they aren’t taking it, I’ll usually point to the map and insist they go that way. (I once left a taxicab in Bangkok because he tried to pull a fast one on me by taking a longer route.)

If I’m going to a country where I won’t have phone access, I download the map onto my phone. Your phone’s GPS will work even if you don’t have a connection. Additionally, ride services like Uber place accountability on drivers, which greatly reduces the likelihood of you being cheated.  

I see this one all the time — how people fall for it I’ll never know. It’s such an old and obvious scam. It’s in movies, for heaven’s sake! You’ll see people on the street playing a card game (sometimes known as three-card Monte) or hiding a ball in a cup and someone guessing where it is and winning money. Then you decide to play — and you win! Thinking this is great, you bet more money…and then you lose — and lose again and again.

Here’s a short video on how the trick works:

Don’t get suckered into this con. Remember, the house always wins!  

While in Morocco , someone tried this travel scam on me. I was walking out of a convenience store when a guy struck up a conversation. Finding out I was from NYC , he said he had a cousin who lived there (the first giveaway) and wanted to know if I could come to his shop to write a postcard for him (the second giveaway).

The goal here was to get me in the shop, maybe give me some tea, and then pressure me into buying something. This uses the psychological principle of reciprocity: he gave me tea, he was nice to me, so soon I’ll feel socially obliged to buy something.

Similarly, a common tea scam in China involves a beautiful local woman who wants to practice English. Due to the culture shock, many men are more than happy to speak English to a friendly local. She invites you to try a tea ceremony, so you go to a tea house (commonly near the Forbidden City).

After a while, the owners bring you the bill, it’s a huge amount of money and the owner threatens to call the police unless you pay up. As most travelers don’t want any problems, they pay up.

To avoid this, don’t follow people to a second location or believe they suddenly have a cousin who happens to live exactly where you do!  

In this scam, common in Europe , a friendly person will approach you for a quick chat, then place a bracelet around your wrist or hat on your head, or give you a little sprig of rosemary. Once you have it on your person, they will demand money. When you refuse, they will begin to cause a scene in the hopes you would rather give them some money than be embarrassed.

Don’t allow anyone to put anything on your body, and be extremely wary of accepting anything for free. If they put something on you, simply take it off, give it back to them, and be firm about it. Then walk away and move on with your day. They won’t chase you.

Another common variation on this scheme is the fake monk. You’ll find this one everywhere from NYC to Europe to Asia. The “monk” will put a Buddhist bracelet on your wrist and then ask for a “donation.” Real Buddhist monks don’t wander the streets hawking cheap bracelets, so always ignore any monks that look to be peddling trinkets.  

There you are, minding your own business, and someone spills something on you. Ruins your day, but accidents happen, right? They are profusely sorry and offer to clean it up, dabbing the stain, and apologizing. While you are all flustered, they are picking your pocket. By the time you realize what has happened, they are long gone.

This scam is also common in Europe. Beware of people encroaching on your person if it’s not a crowded area already. If this happens, push people away and clean it up yourself.

Another variation on this is the “poo shoe.” Particularly common in India, this scam involves someone squirting animal poop on your shoe when you’re not looking. When you notice, they “help” you find someone to clean your shoe (or they do it themselves) for an exorbitant fee. Conversely, sometimes you will just get pickpocketed while looking down at your shoe to see what happened.

Either way, if you get poop on your shoe, be wary!  

You rent a motorbike and spend the day exploring. When you bring it back, the owner demands an additional payment or expensive repairs because there is some damage you didn’t know about. In some cases, they will have asked you to leave your passport as collateral instead of a deposit “since it’s easier.” Then, when they inspect the motorbike afterward and “find” new damage, you have to fork over a lot of money because they’re holding your passport hostage.

I see this scam a lot in Southeast Asia and other developing regions of the world.

To avoid this, take photos of the bike first to document any previous damage. Go around it with the owner so they know what you are taking pictures of. Use your own lock, and keep the bike out of sight and off a main street when you park it. Sometimes an owner will send someone to mess with the bike or steal it so you have to pay!

Also, always make sure you buy travel insurance so you can make a claim if there is an issue.

(This scam is much less common with rental cars, but it can still happen so always take photos and video of your vehicle before you leave the parking lot — and make sure the company knows you’re doing so.  

You arrive in a new country and head to a bar, where a beautiful local comes up to you for a chat. You can’t believe your luck. You have some drinks and amazing conversation and go to a new bar or club that she suggested. However, after a wild night and lots of drinks, the woman disappears and you’re forced to pay an overpriced bill with some really big guys bearing down on you to make sure you do. Or, worse, you get drugged and wake up completely robbed of everything on you.

Another thing to be aware of is that when attractive locals are sitting by themselves at a bar they might be ‘working’ (i.e. a sex worker). It’s important not to get into an uncomfortable position where you may have misread the “chemistry” for what it really was: a business transaction you need to pay for.

The simple solution to this is to be wary of attractive locals who promise to take you to the world’s best club, get you drinks, or are overly flirtatious — especially when you stand out like a sore thumb as a foreigner. Getting on a plane didn’t increase your attractiveness by a factor of 10.  

As mentioned, this is what happened to me and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker! A friendly local approaches and informs you that the attraction you want to visit is closed for any number of reasons (religious ceremony, holiday, etc.). Then they’ll guide you to a different attraction or shop, where you’re pressured to purchase something or pay a lot for entry.

To avoid this, find the main entrance or ticket counter and see for yourself. Also, keep in mind that most attractions don’t close for lunch — they close for the day. Even better, look up the open hours before you go, so you know what to expect — opening and closing times are almost always available online. Don’t be like me!  

An innocent-looking person picks up a ring on the ground and asks if you dropped it. When you say no, the person looks at the ring closely, then shows you a mark “proving” that it’s pure gold. He or she offers to sell it to you for a better price. They make some money, and you get some gold you can resell. It’s a win-win! You think it’s a good deal, buy it find out it’s fake when you try to sell it at home!

This is common in Europe . One of my tour members almost fell for it when we were in Paris, but I intervened in time and sent the person away. The best way to avoid this scam is to not buy the ring. If it sounds too good to be true, it definitely is.  

You’re at a popular tourist sight and a woman or kid (often pretending to be deaf or a student) will try to get you to sign a petition. You don’t know what they are saying, and to end the awkwardness, you sign the petition, hoping they will go away. But the petitioner then demands a cash donation. At best, anyone who falls for this scam is out some money; at worst, they’re pickpocketed while fighting with the petitioner.

Another one of my tour members fell for this scam (even after I warned him specifically about it), but I saved him in time. To avoid this scam, just ignore people coming up to you to sign a petition, especially when they are in groups and try to surround you. Just keep on walking.  

This scam is common in many developing countries — especially those with a lively party scene like in Southeast Asia. You’re in a popular tourist area and someone offers you drugs. You say yes, and before you know it, a (real) cop is on the scene! They threaten to arrest you unless you pay a fine right there (i.e., a bribe). If caught red-handed, you’ll probably pay the bribe rather than go to jail.

To avoid this scam, don’t buy illegal drugs in other countries!  

This happens a lot in countries where the bills look similar to each other. People tend to look at colors first, so when you get a pile of change that is the same color, you think you got the right change — but they really gave you the wrong bills, hoping you won’t notice until after you rush out.

To avoid getting taken, count your change carefully every time.  

This happens all over the world and mostly with shirts, carpets, rugs, and antiques. You’re at a store and you see a designer item at a bargain price. Maybe they got it wholesale? After some haggling, the owner agrees to sell it to you. But while you aren’t paying attention, he gives you a knockoff.

To avoid this scam, remember that no designer anything is going to be that cheap. Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it’s not true.

Second, be sure to always watch what the seller is actually giving you to be sure it’s the exact item you wanted.  

When you go to use an ATM, a “helpful” local will approach you to help you avoid the ATM fee. What they are really doing is using a card skimmer to steal your credit card information once they get close. Often there is a second person in line pretending to be a customer who will agree with the “helpful” person’s tips.

To avoid this one, always use indoor ATMs inside a bank branch. Additionally, always check the ATM itself for a card skimmer. Here’s a video on how to do that:

Lastly, never let anyone get close to you when you’re using an ATM. If people are acting suspiciously, take your card and leave.  

This scam can be found pretty much everywhere. Usually, an injured person or young child (sometimes with their mother) will approach you and ask for money. This is a tough one because you’ll feel compelled to help. Unfortunately, a lot of children have been roped into gangs and collect money on their behalf. And sometimes, an accomplice is waiting nearby to see where you keep your wallet so they can pickpocket you later.

Since it’s impossible to know who is legit and who is faking it, I never give money to injured beggars or children. Instead, I’ll make a donation to a helpful charity or offer them food.  

These days, everyone is always on the lookout for free Wi-Fi. One common scam hackers will do is create a free unlocked Wi-Fi hub and then, once you’ve logged onto it, they steal your data.

The solution? Never join any unsecured networks and always use a VPN when you’re abroad . It will keep your data secure. Additionally, don’t access any sensitive data while on an unsecured network, such as your online bank.

If you’re not sure what network to connect to, ask the staff. Better safe than sorry!  

In cities where there are a lot of currency exchanges near popular tourist attractions, a person might come up to you and ask if you want to change some money. They’ll offer you a fantastic rate and say they don’t charge commission. They might even tell you they work for an exchange place nearby or even have some sort of name tag on. The money they show you is real and they will show you all the ways it’s NOT counterfeit.

However, once you exchange some, you’ll discover that some of the notes (usually in the middle of the stack) are fake — but by that time the person is gone. As a rule, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, so stick to reputable currency shops.

Chances are you’ve been scammed abroad at least once. It happens. But, to avoid getting ripped off in the future, be wary when it comes to people offering you something in a touristy setting . Think of it this way: in your day-to-day life back home, would you go for it?

If the answer is no, then chances are it’s a scam you need to avoid.

On the road, a little common sense goes a long way.

Worried about getting something lost, stolen, or falling for a scam? Make sure you get travel insurance coverage so that if something does happen, you can be made whole again and recover your losses! I never leave home without it! You can use the widget below to get your quote today:

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• InsureMyTrip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Avoid Scams When You Travel

Common Travel Scams

Signs of a scam, 3 ways to avoid travel scams, how to shop for travel, report travel scams, “free” vacations.

You’ve probably seen ads online for “free” vacations. Or you may have gotten emails, calls, or text messages saying you’ve won a vacation, even though you never entered a contest. If you respond to these offers, you’ll quickly learn that you have to pay some fees and taxes first — so your “free” vacation isn’t really free. A legitimate company won’t ask you to pay for a free prize.

Robocalls about vacation deals

You might get robocalls offering you vacation deals at a discounted price. Robocalls from companies trying to sell you something are illegal unless the companies got written permission, directly from you, to call you that way. If someone is already breaking the law by robocalling you without permission, there’s a good chance it’s a scam. At the very least, it’s a company you don’t want to do business with.

International travel document scams

You might see sites that claim to be able to help you get an international travel visa, passport, or other documents. These sites are just copycats of the U.S. Department of State website. But these sites charge you high fees, including fees for services that are free on the U.S. Department of State's website.

International driving permit scams

An international driving permit (IDP) translates your government-issued driver’s license into 10 languages. Scammers create websites to sell fake IDPs, or try to sell them to you in person or some other way. If you buy a fake IDP, you’ll be paying for a worthless document. But, even worse, you also could face legal problems or travel delays if you’re detained for using it to drive in a foreign country. Only the  U.S. Department of State , the American Automobile Association (AAA), and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) are authorized to issue IDPs.

Vacation home scams

These days, it’s easy to connect directly with property owners who advertise their vacation homes online. But scammers are also trying to get your rental booking . For example, they hijack real rental listings and advertise them as their own, so when you show up for your vacation, you find out that other people are also booked for the same property. You have no place to stay, and your money is gone. Other scammers don’t bother with real rentals — they make up listings for places that aren’t really for rent or don’t exist.

Charter flight scams

You may get a flyer in the mail, see an ad, or hear from someone in your community about an offer to travel by private plane to some place you’d like to go. The offer may even include lodging and sightseeing tours. You think you’re signing up for a charter flight and vacation package, but after you pay, you find out it’s all a scam. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Special Authorities Division maintains a list of approved public charter flights . If the charter filing is not approved by DOT before the package is sold, you’re probably dealing with a dishonest charter operator.

• Scammers say it's a “free” vacation that you have to pay for. They often try to get your attention by saying you won something, but then making you pay to get it. If you have to pay, it’s not really free — and all those fees and taxes can add up to hundreds of dollars.
• Scammers don't give specific details about the travel offer. The offer says you’ll stay at a “five-star” resort or go on a “luxury” cruise ship. But if the organizer can’t or won’t give you more specific details, like the address of the hotel or the cruise company's name, walk away. 
• Scammers say the only way to pay for your vacation rental is by wire transfer , gift card , or cryptocurrency . This is how they ask you to pay because once they’ve collected the money, it’s almost impossible to get it back. That’s a scam, every time.
• Scammers pressure you to make a quick decision about a vacation package or rental. If someone says you have to decide whether to buy a travel package or rent a vacation property right away, don’t do it. Scammers want to rush you. So move on and find another option.
• Scammers advertise premium vacation properties for super cheap prices. Is the rent a lot less than comparable rentals? Below-market rent can be a sign of a scam. 
• Don’t sign or pay until you know  the terms  of the deal. Get a copy of the cancellation and refund policies before you pay. If you can’t get those details, walk away. Say “no thanks” to anyone who tries to rush you without giving you time to consider the offer.
• Do some research. Look up travel companies, hotels, rentals, and agents with the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See what others say about them before you commit. Also, check that the address of the property really exists. If the property is located in a resort, call the front desk and confirm their location and other details on the contract.
• Don’t pay with wire transfers , gift cards , or cryptocurrency . Dishonest travel package promoters might tell you to pay in one of these ways, but that’s a sure sign of a scam. If you pay with wire transfers, gifts cards, or cryptocurrency and there’s a problem with what you paid for, you’ll lose your money, and there’s likely no way to track it or get it back.
• Get recommendations from trusted sources. Talk to family and friends or other trusted sources about good travel agencies, vacation rentals, hotels, and travel packages.
• Check out comparison websites and apps. Travel apps can help you search for airfares and hotel rates, and some even give you fare alerts and real-time deals. But make sure you know whether you’re buying from the app company or the actual airline or resort. It can affect things like whether you can get a refund or travel points, and the price for services like changing or canceling a flight. Also, make sure you know whether you’re buying a ticket or just making a reservation.
• Ask about mandatory hotel “resort fees” and taxes. You can’t compare rates for different hotels unless you know about all the fees. If you’re not sure whether a hotel’s website is showing you the total price, call the hotel and ask about a “resort fee” or any other mandatory charge. Also ask about taxes, which may be significant in many places.
• If you’re buying travel insurance, be sure the agency is licensed . Find out whether an agency is licensed at the website of the US Travel Insurance Association . Make a copy of your insurance card to take with you when you go on the trip.
• Check that charter flights are listed on the approved public charter flights of the U.S. Department of Transportation before you pay.  Also, check out the charter’s operator with local travel agents to see if they know if the operator is legitimate, or contact the American Society of Travel Advisors . The U.S. Department of Transportation’s website has more tips on what to know about charter flights.

If you think you may have been targeted by a travel scam, report it to

• the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
• your state attorney general

Do you know about the gift scam? No one is safe from the newest tourism swindles

Tourists are such easy targets for scammers. 

Just ask Adrian Dinulescu, who booked a four-star hotel for a week in Santorini, Greece, this summer. The property had almost perfect reviews, but when he showed up, he found the place was a dump. 

"No towels, no soap, no clean sheets," recalled Dinulescu, a student from Suffolk, England. 

Check out Elliott Confidential , the newsletter the travel industry doesn't want you to read. Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler. But don't tell anyone!

Ah, the what-you-see- isn't -what-you-get scam. That's an old favorite with a new twist this year: it's happening more often because of record-high demand. But there are additional swindles out there, including scams involving deception, distraction and petty theft.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

"Scammers will always take advantage of current circumstances," said Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris Powered by Generali , an ID theft protection company. "And with more people traveling again, they have taken notice – and action."

Taking a trip this fall? Here's the one travel tip you should follow

Should phone calls be allowed on planes? You probably won't like the answer.

Can you avoid these travel scams?

Let's skip right to the solution. The newest tourism scams are not only preventable; they're sometimes reversible. Dinulescu, who had prepaid $500 for his room through Booking.com, appealed to the online travel agency. He sent photos of the trash bags in the hallway and the beds without sheets. 

In response, Booking.com credited him $80 – a good start. But what about the rest of the money? Booking.com promised to investigate, but the weeks started to drag by. Finally, he asked me to help. I contacted Booking.com to ask about the fake four-star hotel in Santorini. A representative contacted me shortly after that.

"I wanted to let you know that Adrian will be receiving a full refund," she said.

No one is safe from the newest tourism scams

Even experienced travelers can get taken by the latest scams.

Milosz Krasinski was on a road trip through Europe this summer when he fell for this swindle: At a gas station, he found a makeshift gift shop selling vignettes at a reduced rate. (A vignette is a mandatory sticker that shows you've paid your road taxes.) He bought it.

"It was a counterfeit," he said. "It looked like the real deal but wasn't registered in the official system." 

And you probably can guess what happened next. A police officer pulled Krasinski over when he was driving through Prague. Krasinski was embarrassed to have wasted $17 on a 10-day vignette. But the London-based web consultant was more worried about what he would have to pay in penalties.

"It was a jarring moment, realizing I'd been scammed and that I might now be facing a hefty fine," he said. "But the police officers were incredibly understanding. They explained to me the vignette scam and how it targets unsuspecting tourists. Instead of fining me, they instructed me to head to the nearest official point of sale to purchase an authorized vignette."

What kind of travel scams are out there?

Scams that target travelers come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Here are the major ones:

◾ Games of chance. If you see anyone playing a three-card monte or a shell game, keep walking. It's a confidence game, and you will lose money. I've seen it all over the world.

◾ The gift scam. That's where a scammer tries to give you a bracelet, a ring, or a flower and then pressures you to pay for it. If someone offers you something, especially in a touristy area, say "no."

◾ Money swindles. From ATM skimmers to shady merchants who give you incorrect change or counterfeit money, money scams are everywhere. Pay by credit card where possible, and always check to ensure they're charging you the right amount. Avoid using cash.

◾ Taxi overcharges . You get into a cab, and – oh no! – the meter is broken. The result is a huge overcharge. It happened to me twice in Indonesia last month. Call an Uber or get a taxi using an app.

The worst tourist scam I've seen lately is the shady business of moving a decimal point when someone charges your credit card. So a $20 souvenir costs $200 – or $2,000. Most visitors are too distracted to notice the switch, and by the time they get back to the States, it's too late. If you have a reliable credit card, you can dispute the charge under the Fair Credit Billing Act .

Don't be a casualty: Hotels are returning fire in the 'junk fee' war

You can do this! Pro travel advice on surviving summer 2023

What are the new tourism scams?

Scams evolve as tourists get smarter. Shell games become more sophisticated. Money scams get smarter. Here are some of the "innovations" to look for:

◾ Distraction techniques. Scammers are using new distraction techniques, such as asking for directions or pretending to be lost, to divert your attention while an accomplice steals your belongings. "Stay alert and keep a close eye on your valuables in crowded areas," advised  Pallavi Sadekar, the head of operations at VisitorGuard.com .

◾ The "helpful" local. With more Americans going overseas, the helpful local scam is making a comeback, say insiders. Michael Donovan, who runs a site about New England , said he's seen more so-called "helpful" locals in his international travels. "They offer to guide you, only to steer you toward a friend's expensive shop or charge outrageous fees," he said. Donovan recommends being cautious of overly friendly locals.

◾ Waiting for you to let down your guard. Mike Ballard, director of intelligence for Global Guardian, an international medical and security service provider, said the newest scam in the book is a version of the oldest one. "It's petty theft or other opportunistic crimes in major tourist areas, public transport, or crowded areas like public transit hubs and markets," he said. 

How can airlines curb bad behavior? Start by providing better service.

'People became more entitled': Enough with bad tourists ruining everyone's experience

How to protect yourself from tourism scams

You don't have to fall victim to these tourism scams. You already know the biggest travel scams if you've made it this far in the story. You also know the up-and-comers. The best piece of advice I've heard is: Pay attention.

"Be aware of your surroundings," said Carrie Pasquarello, CEO of Global Secure Resources , a risk mitigation and threat assessment planning company. "Keep an eye on your belongings when someone strikes up a conversation or asks you a question."

Location matters too. A new tourist scam index compiled by the U.K. site Quotezone.co.uk found that tourist hotspots in France, Spain and Italy are the places you're likeliest to get scammed while you're in Europe. 

Also, pack your common sense when you go somewhere. The friendly local who is offering to show you the sights is too good to be true – chances are, there's a scam behind it. The taxi driver with a dark meter? Move on. Also, stay away from games of chance or friendly natives who want to give you gifts. And if someone tries to distract you, keep an eye on your belongings.

I saw a pretty sophisticated distraction technique on a recent visit to Christchurch, New Zealand. As I passed a crowd of kids, one of them said to me, "Sir, you dropped your wallet."

I instinctively reached for my billfold – showing him exactly where I had my cards and money. I knew what would happen next. He would text his friend a block away and tell him where I was keeping my wallet. I switched directions, avoiding what might have been an unpleasant confrontation.

The scammers are coming for you this fall. Don't let them get you.

Christopher Elliott  is an author, consumer advocate, and journalist. He founded  Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps solve consumer problems. He publishes  Elliott Confidential , a travel newsletter, and the  Elliott Report , a news site about customer service. If you need help with a consumer problem, you can  reach him here  or email him at  [email protected] .

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Avoid These Three Online Travel Scams

Fraudsters may target you when you book vacations and make hotel reservations, sharing is nice.

We respect your privacy . All email addresses you provide will be used just for sending this story.

When was the last time you consulted a live travel agent? In the course of the past few years, the travel booking business has gone almost 100 percent online. It's not surprising, then, that scammers and schemers are manipulating the Internet to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers. 

Charlie Abrahams, senior vice president at MarkMonitor , which helps companies protect their brand online, spotlights three travel scams that have been sneaking into the industry:

Phishing.  Until recently, most phishing attempts targeted the financial services industry, trying to lure consumers into revealing their account numbers and passwords. But as banks and brokerage firms strengthened their defenses, phishers started moving to other industries. "Travel is one of the most popular targets at the moment," says Abrahams.

Here's how they operate. Scammers target repeat customers of everything from online booking agents to hotel chains. You'll receive an email warning you that, for example, your Marriott points are going to expire or that your preferred booking agent is offering you a discount. The email provides a link and urges you to log in right away. But when you type in your login information, the phisher captures your personal information—name, address, credit card number—and may download malware onto your computer. 

To protect yourself from these kinds of travel scams, never click on email links. "If you get an email imploring you to log in, be very cautious about inputting password or credential information," says Abrahams. "It's likely to be a trap." Instead, log on to the legitimate site to confirm the request.

Have your plans been derailed by travel scams?

Tell us what happened in the comments section below.

Pay-per-click scams.  As an online industry, travel is a business in which success is driven by clicks—whether those clicks lead to a legitimate site or one that attempts to lure consumers elsewhere.

If you search for the name of a specific hotel, chances are that the first listing that comes up will be an advertisement for a booking service, not   the site of the specific hotel. While that's often a perfectly above-board partnership, it may not always produce the best deal for consumers. What's not acceptable is when fraudsters use search keywords to divert consumers to illegitimate sites offering counterfeit airline tickets or fake hotel vouchers.

So what should you do? Check out more than one site to compare deals. Don't forget to look up the rates on the hotel's website or an airline's website, which may offer special prices. For hotels, you can also go old-school and call the hotel directly—not the central reservations number—to inquire about discounts from a human who has up-to-date, on-the-ground information. If you are alert to travel scams, you should be able to spot this one.

Search engine manipulation.  Also known as " black hat SEOs " (for the black hats worn by villains in old film Westerns) or "cyber-squatting," this twist on search engine manipulation is used by scammers who insert other companies' brands, slogans or trademarks to imply a relationship that doesn't exist.

A consumer might find his search derailed by fraudsters using a well-known brand or trademark in their website content to boost their credibility when, in fact, no such partnership exists. Or scammers may "squat" on the URL for a website that sounds like what you're looking for—say, MarriottLosAngeles.com—and stuff it with advertisements for cruises and tours that haven't been approved by Marriott.

This practice is distracting and annoying but it's not actually malicious. To avoid it, type in web addresses carefully and check to be sure you're at the official site.

Catherine Fredman

I write about personal finance—for the past two years at Consumer Reports, where I specialize in unearthing scams and fraud.

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Your Next Vacation Starts Here

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Every show contains your favorite travel celebrities during one-hour keynote sessions from the likes of Rick Steves, Phil Rosenthal, Josh Gates, Andrew McCarthy, Pauline Frommer, Peter Greenberg,

Pauline Frommer and more on the Travel Theater. Want more? Ask them your burning questions during live Q&A sessions, and even snag a selfie or an autograph immediately following their session.

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While you explore the show and talk with the travel experts in every booth, don’t forget to ask about their show-only deals & specials. Who knows, maybe you’ll even take your next trip for free.

Most Travel & Adventure Show exhibitors provide exclusive travel deals and travel specials that are only available at the event. No hour-long, sit down timeshare presentations here – this is the best way to travel on a budget and deal directly with reputable travel providers that you can’t find anywhere else.

Ready to make your dream trip a reality? Click on your city below and learn more about what’s being offered at a Travel & Adventure Show near you!

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So, after all that planning, and a long travel day, you ’ ve finally arrived at your dream vacation destination. Your eyes are shimmering with wonder at the unfamiliar scene before you, as you drink in a new culture. 

Unfortunately for you, this is an expression that communicates, as equally as it does awe, that you ’ re a walking, talking bag of foreign cash. You ’ re finally in Florence, but a certain strain of locals is about to play a version of flag football that swaps colored cloth for wallets full of freshly exchanged euros. 

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If you ’ re going on a trip soon, here are five common scams to keep in mind. If you ’ re not going on a trip, you can simply read about them and appreciate the fact that, honestly, they ’ re pretty good.

5 The Free Bracelet/Trinket

Shutterstock

An old cliche that will serve you well in unfamiliar territory is the classic, “There ’ s no such thing as a free lunch.” This saying also applies to souvenirs. How it goes is that a seemingly friendly local presses some souvenir into your palm, or ties a bracelet to your wrist, acting very much like it ’ s a welcome gift, if not outright claiming it ’ s free. Where I grew up, in Washington D.C., the forcible gift of choice was a small American flag pin. 

Once you ’ ve claimed ownership through sheer awkwardness, you ’ re informed that the item is, in fact, NOT free, and that they sure would like you to pay them right now , sometimes claiming it ’ s a “donation.” “Can ’ t you just give it back,” you might think, and the answer is absolutely not. Which you will be told in increasingly aggressive tones.

4 The Broken Taxi Meter

A popular one in any city populated with cab drivers is a cab offering you a ride from the airport, only to inform you that their meter is broken, and instead telling you what the trip would have cost. This sounds simple enough, especially if you ’ re not especially street smart, until you realize that the reason taxis have meters installed isn ’ t for the benefit of the drivers. They don't have any trouble thinking up an amount of money they'd like, and if you don ’ t have any evidence to the contrary, it ’ s not like they can drive you back in reverse to undo the ride. 

The easy solve, whether it ’ s a cab with a “broken meter” or an unmetered car service, is to ask how much the trip is before you get in the car. 

Of course, with Uber and similar services, this scam has probably fallen out of favor, since Uber is perfectly happy to rip you off directly on your phone screen and call it “surge pricing.”

3 The Spill-and-Stain Switcheroo

You ’ re drinking in the picturesque sights of beautiful Brussels, when suddenly someone collides with you, covering you in a drink, milkshake or pretty much anything else that will soak into clothing. 

At first, it seems like this would be the opposite of someone trying to get away with subterfuge. Drawing the attention of everyone nearby seems counterintuitive, and you ’ re sure as hell not only aware of them, but probably pissed off. Therein lies the sneaky key, though: You ’ re pissed off at them for spilling on you, which they ’ re overly apologetic about, trying to help you clean up. They ’ re much happier for you to be pissed about that than pissed at the fact that they or a friend are pickpocketing the hell out of you while they ’ re wiping gelato off your shirt.

2 I ’ ve Fallen, and I Can ’ t Get Up

If a possible pickpocket thinks the previous plan is too subtle and too narrow in target, they go for another classic distraction. One that I do have to applaud for its, dare I say, elegance. All they need is an accomplice who is a frail, elderly looking woman. In any busy area, this creaky-boned conspirator takes a dive and screams bloody murder. Everyone around her is quickly trying to make sure someone ’ s grandma didn ’ t just die in the middle of a street fair, and less making sure they're watching their luggage . 

Obviously, if someone ’ s actual old relative genuinely cracks a hip and you roll right over her with your Samsonite, you ’ ll look like a true sociopath. Which is the thing that makes this whole scam work in the first place.

1 Bad Spider-Man

Or, you can go to Times Square and avoid any of the trickery at all. You ’ re just going to take a picture with a guy dressed as Spider-Man, and by the time you smell the vodka on his suit, it ’ s too late. You ’ re going to pay him $25 for the picture, or your kids are going to watch their favorite Avenger curb-stomp their dad.

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