Don’t get scammed when vacation shopping, Arizona AG warns
Jul 19, 2018, 9:37 AM
PHOENIX – Be careful when you’re shopping for that end-of-summer vacation. If a deal seems too good to be true, it might be a scam.
That’s the warning Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich conveyed Thursday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona Morning News.
“I would never book a vacation if someone cold calls you on the phone,” he said. “Stay away from that.
“We’re urging people to make sure that they use legitimate websites when they book stuff.”
Ways to confirm the legitimacy of websites include searching the internet for reviews, checking for complaints with the Better Business Bureau and making sure the URL starts with the https, which indicates a secure connection.
Also, Brnovich said to make sure the contact phone number goes to the property the site claims to represent. Some shoppers wind up on what appear to be official sites for hotel chains but are actually third-party sites that charge extra fees or might take your payment without actually booking a room.
“And they end up getting charged. They get charged extra fees, and very often it’s nonrefundable,” he said.
“You want to make sure you understand what the rules are, what the procedures are, the policies, so you end up not being charged for a room you might never use.”
One way to protect your travel investment is to use a credit card, not a debit card. And never wire money, Brnovich said.
“It’s not only about winning a fake lottery,” he said. “If you’ve got a hotel or are paying for a vacation and you end up wiring money — or using your ATM card — that’s like cash; you’re never going to get it back.”
Credit card companies, however, offer recourse if you want to cancel plans or dispute charges.
“It’s really unfortunate that we live in this day and age where you don’t need a ski mask and a gun to rob someone,” Brnovich said. “All you need is a pen and a computer.”
