The ACCC has received 1,650 complaints about travel scams this year, with $100,000 reported lost. Most complainants were contacted by phone and many were offered holiday vouchers for $2,000 or $3,000. Others were sold fake trips to Florida or the Bahamas including tickets to theme parks or cruises at greatly discounted rates.
“While you are making plans for a hard-earned break, scammers are plotting to steal your hard-earned dollars,” ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard warned.
Ms Rickard explained that scammers have also recently been targeting homes and businesses with a fraudulent phone message from QANTAS or Virgin, which claims they have won a ‘travel prize’ or ‘credit points’ – typically $999 – towards their next holiday. In order to redeem the credit, you have to answer several questions, including handing over credit card details so that the ‘prize’ can be processed.
“Watch out for these fraudsters cold calling and announcing that you’ve won a travel prize, ranging from discount accommodation vouchers to whole holiday packages. To redeem the prize, you will be asked to provide personal information such as your credit card and drivers’ licence details before they can send it to you,” Ms Rickard said.