Travel scams are getting worse and prime victims are college students scouring the internet for cheap tickets to spring break destinations.
“It’s hitting and targeting these young kids who believe everything is OK if it’s done on the internet,” said Kathryn W. Sudeikis, president of the American Society of Travel Agents, speaking at a travel fraud conference in Washington, DC.
The National Consumers League says the average travel scam victim loses $1,268. Travel fraud is among the categories where consumers lose the most money each year, reported the Kansas City infoZine.
With more travelers buying airline tickets and booking online hotels, the internet has produced a new wave of travel scams, said Ms Sudeikis, who has a travel agency in Los Angeles.
She said airlines are hearing from travelers cheated by certificates offering false travel discounts.
Report by David Wilkening
