Travel Scams
These may emerge in different forms, but the two most common are travel clubs and travel certificates. Travel clubs usually involve the following:
- Travel club "representatives" solicit members over the phone, often luring you in with a claim that you have won a prize and must attend a sales presentation to collect your prize.
- The presentation will likely be a high-pressure sales demonstration.
- Membership fees are often steep - anywhere from hundreds of dollars to $2,500 and up.
Travel certificates often involve the following:
- They are usually mailed to consumers' homes.
- They have a telephone number on them, urging recipients to call a toll-free number to collect their vacation "prize" right away or the offer will be gone.
Some warnings and tips:
- Beware of any organization or group that holds its presentations in temporary or short-term quarters, such as a hotel or motel and doesn't provide a permanent physical address.
- Get as many details about travel offers as possible in writing, before making a decision.
- Remember, you should never have to pay anything for a prize. A true prize should be free.