Fake online travel agents

[Silent1CB]

I wonder how many people are ever scammed by fake online travel agents? I was just on a little forum for a group of people getting together for a convention later this year, and saw a post by someone offering cruises related to this conventions interest. I followed to their facebook page, and see people are signing up to go on this cruise.

Its actually just a regular Norweigan Cruise Line Cruise, but this person is supposedly organizing custom excursions based on the groups interest. They are handling peoples reservations for the cruise too. Some of the language in the posts made me wonder if this "person" had experience or if they were even legit.

I mean how hard would it be to create a fake business front online these days, take money, and create fake reservation emails for these people. You obviously only get away with such a scam once, but once is still pretty good.

This sort of thing must happen for sure. I haven't used a travel agent, in person or online since 1991. And I prefer to book everything directly with the hotels, car rental co, and so forth.

Thoughts?

 

[NC State]

Me too.

 

[balletmom97]

My family owned a (legitimate)travel agency until about 18 months ago, and I can tell you it is VERY easy to set up a scam agency/tour operator.

There are varying degrees of scam...from the overwhelmed agent who starts "borrowing" from payments to suppliers to those who just set up a completely fake deal with no intention of booking travel.

As a travel agency, we also had to be very careful about our tour operators. Anyone who has been in the busines any amount of time can tell you about a tour operator who turned out to be a scam or just ran out of money and closed up shop, leaving people high and dry. (Premier's Big Red Boat, anyone?)

You might suggest to those buying into the cruise to purchase good travel insurance, independent of that travel agent. Whether it turns out to be legit or not, the insurance premium is always a good investment unless you can afford to lose the entire amount you have paid.

 

[safetymom]

I would ask where the payments go. Are they going directly to NCL?

 

[kellyg403]

You know, I never actually even thought about travel agents possibly being scammers until my bff, who works in the travel industry, told me that there were so many out there. I guess I am trusting until I get scammed or something along those lines. She gave me some examples and had I been the person left in some country with NO accomodations and nothing I had paid for...good gravy. What exactly do you do in those situations.

Its one of the reasons I use her if we are booking something overseas and its the reason anything else I do myself. I am too afraid..just from the few things she has told me.

Kelly

 

[binny]

there are hundreds of them, the best thing you can do, as an aware consumer is to check out their history. Are with a reliable host agency? If so check that out. How long have they been in the business? Did they have any actual training other than the "3 hour training session" that so many of these companies offer.


RUN away from any "agent" who buys their credentials, that would include YTB, Zamzuu, World Ventures, travel ventures and many many more.
Also watch for websites that say "Join us now" "Start your very own travel agency ask me how!" " Easiest money you will ever make, sell to (or simply sign up) your friends and family!" or my personal favourite "Make money in your sleep"

you can also check out http://www.scam.com for more info on questionable travel agencies. Also www.ripoffreport.com



Please also check out my friend John Frenayes blog http://notravelmlms.blogspot.com/ there are a large group of travel agents screaming for certification rules. As of now there arent any. anyone can throw a sign in their sign in their yard and call themselves a travel agent. Its ridiculous! Real travel agents spend many hours a week trying to fix what these scammers have done.