This Travel Scam Fools People Every Winter. Here's How To Spot It.

Thomas Barwick via Getty Images Don't get scammed during your winter vacation.You’ve meticulously planned every detail of your winter escape ― researched the perfect destination curated an Instagram-worthy itinerary selected accommodations that promise an unforgettable experience. Then a scam ruins everything.Travel scams are a predatory problem and fraudsters have become creative in their methods. This is especially true when it comes to winter vacations when people are booking seasonal excursions and festive trips and are easily duped.AdvertisementIn fact there’s one big scam that captures people every year ― and if you’re booking a winter ski trip you’ll want to be on the lookout for it. Here’s what to know:Scammers often market fake ski passes equipment and more this time of year.If you’re one of the millions of people who take a ski trip each year it can be tempting to scour for cheaper tickets for lifts and rental equipment since the prices are usually high during prime season. But travelers should be vigilant when booking ski experiences as scammers are increasingly targeting unsuspecting tourists with attractive but fraudulent deals.AdvertisementAfter finding a seemingly bargain-priced

equipment rental agency in Switzerland on Google Monica Patel told HuffPost she was devastated when she never received her rented gear and lost her initial investment forcing her to purchase expensive last-minute equipment. Her example is a cautionary tale for winter travelers.“My partner and I booked rental equipment for our first ski trip online and were really excited because it was cheaper than what our friends had previously paid” she said. “When we tried to contact the company in the morning to pick it up we never got through and lost our money. Now I rather pay more but have the comfort of knowing I will receive what I paid for.”“Rather than putting your faith in a random seller on Craigslist or eBay you should always book through reputable sources like the resort’s official website and known accommodation providers” said Dean Van Es founder and CEO of Fast Cover Travel Insurance.According to Cameron Temple owner of the Luxury Chalet Company a luxury ski chalet rental agency throughout the European Alps fraudsters utilize Google ads to distract consumers from Airbnb and other platforms and deal with them directly. Once you’re on their website there will often be red flags like incorrect property names cheaper rates and unofficial addresses or telephone numbers. If you’re not looking carefully you might think these are real deals.AdvertisementThe same goes for car rentals through alpine destinations. A common scam according to Van Es is when rental companies bill for damage to their cars and provide fake photos as “evidence” of a crash. To avoid being victimized by this you should always take photos and videos of your rental car from every angle after you pick it up and before you return it. This way you have evidence to disprove any fraudulent damage claims.Adam and Kev via Getty Images If a vacation rental seems too good to be true investigate it further.There are other general scams you should be aware of too.Ski-specific scams share certain things in common with other travel scams. Regardless of what time of year you’re traveling there are a few prime red flags you should keep an eye out for. Here are some of the most common ones and how you can spot them:AdvertisementFake rental listings.As with all things if a travel deal looks too good to be true it probably is. One of the most common scams involves fake rentals. To avoid becoming a victim of booking properties

that are nonexistent or not as pictured Lynette Owens the vice president of global consumer education and marketing at the security company Trend Micro recommended closely examining the lister’s profile and other details.“Check for reviews from multiple users look at the host’s profile and beware of prices that seem too good to be true” she said. “Scammers will often create fake profiles or duplicate legitimate listings with slightly altered URLs or contact information.”Fake travel agencies.When publicist Dara Avenius decided to take a last-minute trip she booked it through what she thought was a travel agency. Little did she know she was actually dealing with a digital predator. The first warning? An absurd claim that she couldn’t carry any baggage on her flight.AdvertisementAvenius’ instincts kicked in. One quick call to her bank to dispute the charge revealed the brutal truth: She’d fallen victim to a sophisticated travel scam.“Fake travel agencies are an increasing threat in 2024 preying on travelers seeking affordable getaways by creating convincing websites with irresistible deals” said Cody Candee CEO and founder of the travel and luggage company Bounce. Scammers provide counterfeit tick