Beware Of Summer Vacation Scams – Dave’s Diary

Don’t let the hot summer sun melt your good judgment when it comes to discernment of what is a good deal and what is a scam!Attorneys general and consumer groups nationwide are issuing warnings as scams ramp up for the summer travel season. The scams come in many forms, from free-trip offers and supposed discount travel clubs to fake booking sites and phony house rental ads.

And no delivery system is safe.  The scams come via email, phone, or even regular mail, and may make it seem like you've won something.

Here’s the major red flag--as a general rule, if you begin to collect your prize and are told you need to pay taxes, certain fees or other charges prior to taking your "free" trip-- it's a scam.

Perhaps you’ve heard of a "discount travel club" that demands a lot of money up front and then magically has no rooms available for you when it comes time to book.

Or the phony rental property deal when either the rental is supposedly available at times when none usually are or will be at a far lower rate than normal. Then when the victim checks on the property's availability they’re asked to wire money to hold the rental dates and, then when they show up they discover the address doesn't exist or that the property was not available to rent in the first place!

So a word to the wise for would be wanderers of summer -- be cautious and vigilant, make sure you're working with legitimate businesses and trust your gut if something seems too good to be true.  (CBS News)