Staying Safe as a Travel Advisor: Protecting Yourself from Potential Scams

1. Trust Your Instincts

• If something feels off, don’t dismiss it. 
• Many successful scams rely on creating a sense of urgency or leveraging emotions to push you into action. 
• Take your time to verify the client’s information before proceeding.

2. Verify Client Information

• Always ask for multiple forms of verification. For example:
  • A valid government-issued ID matching the name on the credit card.
  • A phone number that you can verify through a quick call or text.
  • An address that matches the credit card billing address.

3. Avoid Using Personal Information

• Protect your personal contact details. 
• Consider using a business phone number (we personally use a free google voice number for our agency).
• We also have a. Dedicated email we use of our agency business. 
• Rather than using our personal address, we currently use a UPS store as our mailing address as it often allows for mail to be delivered that won’t accept a P.O. Box as the address.
• Update your public profiles, such as ASTA, to reflect only your business information.

4. Use Authorization Forms

• Always require a signed Credit Card Authorization Form before processing payments. This form should include:
  • The client’s full name and contact information.
  • Authorization for the specific transaction.
  • You can always ask for a photocopy of their government-issued ID (especially fi dealing with someone you do not know).

5. Monitor Payment Details

• Be cautious of:
  • Credit cards with different names or billing addresses for the same booking.
  • Clients insisting on non-refundable bookings or pressuring you to act quickly.
• Use secure payment systems and ensure the credit card is verified before booking.

6. Work Closely with Vendors

• Contact your supplier’s fraud prevention team if you suspect anything unusual. It’s good to see you acted quickly by involving Expedia TAAP.

7. Report Suspicious Activity

• If you believe you’ve encountered fraud, report the incident to your host agency, suppliers, and local authorities if necessary. Maintaining records of all communications and transactions is vital.

8. Stay Educated

• Regularly review supplier guidelines and attend training sessions to stay updated on best practices for fraud prevention.

9. Shut Down Communication

• If you determine a client is fraudulent, cease communication. You can block their email address and phone number. Document all interactions in case it escalates or needs to be reported.

It’s unfortunate that scams like this occur, but with the right precautions, you can protect yourself and your business. 

Stay safe out there.