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Holiday Scams

jet_kids_suitcaseHoliday scams

As the temperature rises and Australians start booking their summer holidays, consumers are being warned not to get caught by avoidable scams. 

A new campaign by Australia’s fair trading agencies advises that many travel booking scams can be avoided through simple measures that travellers can use to protect their purchase. 

Booking travel can put people at greater risk of scams through currency conversion, upfront payment and identity theft, due to increased transactions and dealing with unfamiliar suppliers.  

There have been reports of people arriving at their destination only to find a construction site, consumers being sent fake tickets and people paying thousands of dollars to suppliers who disappear after the transaction.

While being a victim of a scam can have a significant impact both financially and emotionally, there are some simple ways that consumers can protect themselves.

The ‘Pack some peace of mind’ campaign includes simple tips for consumers to protect their travel purchase:

  • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is: Many scams will promote “free”, “complimentary” and “discounted” deals that may sound appealing, however are unrealistic. Find out if the deal is real, call the supplier, visit the website and search online for reviews. Always read the fine print.  

  • Use a reputable supplier: Just because the supplier has a professional-looking logo or website does not mean that the business is reputable. Do your research - talk to friends and family about their experiences. Look for traveller reviews online through independent websites and social media. 

  • Book through an accredited agent: If using a travel agent, find out if they are accredited through the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (www.atas.com.au), or look for other forms of accreditation or stamps of approval.

  • The way you pay matters: Different means of payment offer different protections. Be wary of requests for cheques, bank or wire transfers when booking travel. If booking online, choose secure payment methods, such as PayPal. If you pay with a credit card, you may be able to seek a chargeback if you don’t get what you pay for. 

  • Use secure websites: Always check that the website is secure before handing over personal information, especially your banking details. The website should feature ‘https’ or the lock symbol on its payments page. 

  • Travel insurance:  Consider comprehensive travel insurance, and be careful to check for circumstances and activities that are not covered by the policies. More travel insurance tips can be found on the MoneySmart travel insurance page, and also on the CHOICE travel insurance buying guide.


You can visit the Consumer Protection website for more information on travel.

Page created: 21 November 2014
Page edited: 25 February 2015