How To Protect Yourself From Travel Agency Fraud?

Nowadays, if people want to travel they contact a travel agency to make an easy trip. When there is a benefit of anything then definitely it comes with some raising alarm for the public. Travel agencies give a package that includes booking of transport, hotels, lunch, etc. but in the shield of this, they make a scam with the public at large amounts. Due to this people get financial loss and stress & anxiety, risk of spreading or revealing personal information. Travel agencies make fake deals and discounts for the immediate attraction of clients. There are some precautions to save yourself from this type of fraud.

Travel Fraud

Travel fraud means when agencies make fake promises to clients to attract them and get financial gain by using different techniques like lowest amount deals, hidden charges, transportation scams, etc.

What Are The Types Of Travel Fraud?

There are many types of travel fraud are as follow:

• The agency makes fake promises regarding the travel insurance.
• They provide fake receipts of expenses.
• Cancellation of booking at the last time by the travel agency for a    fake reason.
• Fraud travel agencies have a hidden charge.
• Booking hotels is entirely different from what they offer.
• Some fraud agencies have a transportation scam.
• Misrepresentation of terms and conditions of travel agreement.
• Offer for a lot of free vacations.
• Provide fake discounts for booking immediately.
• On trips abroad, they made a scam regarding the exchange of money. 

What Is The Effect Of Travel Fraud?

•  Due to travel fraud, the client gets financial loss.
•  It causes emotional damage to the victims.
•  It led to business loss and financial loss for all travel agencies due to the scam. People do not easily trust the agency after the fraud.
•  Due to the rise of scams people are not going fast to book trips by the agency.

How We Can Identify Travel Fraud?

There are many clients who have been victims of travel fraud. People sometimes do not find out which travel agency is trustworthy. The client can consider the following points:

• If a travel agency gives an offer at the extreme lowest price then make sure and verify the details and try to know the hidden charges of the deal. So that, you can save from hidden charges at the last minute.
• If you book your trip from websites then re-check the websites and try to know if the actual agency exists or not. Make sure they are using their official email.
• Search the physical head office of the agency and cross check and verify.
•  Carefully read the terms and conditions of the agency, if you have any suspicions regarding any terms and conditions then avoid booking your trip.
• If a travel agency puts pressure to book immediately like: “ sir if you book your trip within 1 hour you get a 20% discount, or there are only 2 seats left, etc. in this situation you must recheck instead of paying and book immediately.

How To Prevent Yourself From Travel Fraud?

• If you want to book your trip from any agency, first consult and take the option from your family and friends to avoid any travel scam.
•  Check the details and review of clients from the site. 
• ask for all the documents from the agency and check all details in the documents.
• After booking, ask all the details and contact of hotels, cabs, etc. and contact them to cross-check your booking.
• Don’t pay full amount at one time, only give token money and rest afterward when you reach the destination.
• Ask all hidden charges like 3 times meal included or not or cab amount included in the travel package or exclude.
• Don’t pay the amount in cash, if possible then pay to the official bank.
• Pay the amount from the credit card, if you have it because the bank has a provision regarding the fraud with the amount of credit card.

Travel Fraud Cover Under Which Law:

If any person is the victim of travel fraud they have a right to take legal action against the scam, the following laws governed the travel fraud:

• THE BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023: The victim have a right from the scam of travel fraud under  following section of BNS
  •  Section 318 of BNS which deals with CHEATING.  
  • Section 316 of BNS which deals with CRIMINAL BREACH OF TRUST.
• THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2019: If anyone unfair trade practices done and fraud with clients they can approach to court through the consumer protection Act, 2019 file a case with the help of expert lawyer in CONSUMER DISPUTE REDRESSAL FORUMS AND COMMISSIONS.

Scams Related To Travel Fraud

• FAKE AIRLINE TICKET SCANDAL (2019): In this scam tickets are sold at lowest price to attract the large people. When the people reached the airport they found that the flight was cancelled. Later on they come to know that booking is faked.
• FAKE TRAVEL AGENCIES (2023): In this scam there are multiple fake agencies established and presumed like an original website and profile. They provided the lowest rate and discounts to attract the people. When they received payment and afterward they escaped with money.

Can We Take Legal Action Against Travel Fraud If Then How?

YES, legal action can be taken against the travel fraud because fraud is a wrongful act to gain money from the victim by a deceitful method under the law and if any person commits fraud then law has a provision to give punishment to the person who committed. 

Where Can The Complaint File Against The Travel Fraud?

• Complaint can be file under Consumer Protection Act, 2019
• Police complaint can be filed against the travel fraud.
• Complaints can be filed in the cybercrime cell.

Conclusion

Travel fraud is a serious offence which includes a variety of fraudulent activities and puts people into serious and helpless situations. Fake booking, hidden charges, rental fraud, last time cancellation are examples of fraud travel agencies. Financial losses, reveal of personal information, and destroy the reputation of other renounce travel agencies. 

It is very important that people take preventive action in order to save themselves from travel fraud. This includes using an official bank for payment, exercising caution while handling personal information, and confirming the legitimacy of travel agencies and suppliers. Furthermore, education and awareness of fraud strategies might enable tourists to identify the frauds. In the end, even though travel fraud is still a constant problem, being proactive and making wise decisions can help to protect you.

One can talk to lawyers from Lead India for any kind of legal support. In India, free legal advice online can be obtained at Lead India. Along with receiving free legal advice online, one can also ask questions to the experts online free through Lead India.