As people begin planning their summer getaways, Iowa Attorney General, Tom Miller, is warning everyone to exercise caution and be wary of fraudulent third-party travel sites and hotel resellers. Miller reports that travel fraud is on the rise, and about one in four consumers is scammed, according to recent research from the American Hotel and Lodging Association. In 2017, there were at least 28.5 million fraudulent and misleading hotel bookings, costing consumers $5.2 billion. Some of these companies have faced recent litigation for misleading customers to believe they are booking directly with the hotel and for not informing consumers their credit cards would be charged immediately and not when they checked in. Miller offers some tips on how to avoid fraud when booking your trip, including keeping an eye out for redirection. Third-party websites often have pop-ups that take you to a fraudulent site that appears legitimate. To avoid this, pay close attention to the web URL or address. They also say to use credit cards as a secure form of payment and look for that lock when paying online to make sure it is a secure site. Check and double-check your reservation and if in doubt, pick up the phone and call the hotel or company. The best bet to avoid fraudulent activity is to book directly. If you believe you have been scammed or misled, details on how you can contact the Iowa Attorney General can be found below.
_______________________________
The Office of the Iowa Attorney General:
Phone: 515-281-5926 or toll free: 888-777-4590
Email: consumer@ag.iowa.gov
