Too many college students suffer from the "it won't happen to me" mentality when it comes to taking their spring break trips. The result is thousands of college students getting scammed for hundreds of dollars on what they thought would be a bargain spring break vacation.
If the victims of these scams had just exercised a few preventive measures, they would have avoided a lot of anguish by uncovering the deceitful intentions of the con artists with seductive vacation offers.
Vacation scams come in several varieties. Some are seemingly harmless but end up tacking on many hidden charges. The extra fees take different forms, including exorbitant transportation fees from the airport to the hotel, where you are charged for gas and other costs.
Another common scam tactic is for your return flight to be delayed for a few days, which forces you to remain at the hotel for a longer time. The hotel then charges you inflated rates since you have no choice but to stay there as you wait for your flight.
To avoid hidden charges, make sure you have the vacation deal in writing and know exactly what you will be paying for. Ask the travel company if there will be any additional charges and tell them that you want to know about charges upfront before you accept the travel package. If it is a scam, the travel agents will usually become hesitant to put the costs in writing or talk about other charges.
Other scams give you vouchers that are supposed to be redeemed later, but when you get to your destination you discover that the coupons are no good, either through some fine print stipulations or because the company refuses to accept them. Coupons in general are a bad idea unless you are working through an extremely reputable travel company or have the deal in writing.
Sometimes the travel company will stick in extra expenses for services or products you never received.
It's extremely easy to overlook these costs, and that's why it is a good idea to protect yourself by paying everything with your credit card. This is because you are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which is a federal law that allows you to put in a written complaint to your credit card company for charges that were wrongfully incurred. The credit card company will investigate the claim, and if it finds you in favor it will reverse the charges.
The worst types of scams are where you pay for your trip, only to discover that the travel company who sold you the vacation has become "bankrupt." This scam leaves you with no trip and no refund of money. The best possible protection against this spring break scam is to make sure your travel company is a member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA).
The USTOA is an organization that aims to maintain the integrity of travel companies. Members are required to be honest and straightforward with charges, and the $1 Million Consumer Protection Plan ensuring that you, the consumer, are protected against scams. The USTOA only allows reputable travel companies to join and ensures their financial stability so even if the company goes bankrupt you will be refunded.
If you are getting a chartered flight from a travel company you can verify its registration with the Department of Transportation. Just obtain the charter's name and address by calling the Public Charter licensing division at (202) 366-2396.
Even during your trip you have to be careful. Just use common sense with a hint of the advice your mother told you a hundred times before and you'll be fine.
Don't accept open drinks from strangers and don't leave your beverage unattended. Don't sleep with a stranger. Never travel anywhere alone and make sure to use the buddy system so you can keep track of your friends. Remember never to leave your hotel keys unattended and lock up any valuables in the hotel safe.
To avoid theft, put a few dollars in your pocket and pay with that money so you aren't constantly taking out your wallet and revealing what pocket it is in.
Girls, make sure your purses are slung across your shoulders. Guys, don't put your wallets in your back pockets. Be suspicious if someone bumps into you, since thieves often use this as a tactic to ensure you don't notice the removal of your wallet.
Put only the credits cards and money you know you are going to use in your wallet since anything extra will be an unnecessary risk.
If you're feeling particularly worried about having your money stolen, you can even carry around a fake wallet with a few dollars and fake credit cards (the ones you receive in the mail as advertisements will work fine) in case you are mugged.
Don't feel like you have to be paranoid during your entire trip -- just make sure you're always aware of your surroundings and use some basic common sense. With these tips in mind you can enjoy a safe, fun Spring Break.
