Related Stories
- Pomp and circumstance
- Travel trends for 2017: Where should you venture next?
- 5 things to love about Mackay
- An introduction to the Cotswolds
- Cruisy summer days
Most Popular
Notice (8): Undefined variable: most_viewed_stories [APP/views/stories/probus-display.ctp, line 49]Code | Context<?phpecho View::element('probus-stories-list', array('stories'=>$most_viewed_stories, 'mode'=>'most-popular','limit'=>4));$___viewFn = "/home/probus/domains/stagingblueplains/app-public/views/stories/probus-display.ctp" $___dataForView = array( "nextstoryurl" => "/e47442fb", "publication" => array( "Story" => array(), "Publication" => array(), "Tag" => array(), "Tags" => array() ), "story_tagline" => "", "story" => array( "Story" => array(), "Publication" => array(), "Tag" => array(), "Tags" => array() ), "related_stories" => array( array(), array(), array(), array(), array() ) ) $loadHelpers = true $cached = false $cache = CacheHelper CacheHelper::$__replace = array CacheHelper::$__match = array CacheHelper::$cacheAction = NULL CacheHelper::$helpers = NULL CacheHelper::$base = "" CacheHelper::$webroot = "/" CacheHelper::$theme = NULL CacheHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" CacheHelper::$params = array CacheHelper::$action = "display" CacheHelper::$plugin = NULL CacheHelper::$data = NULL CacheHelper::$namedArgs = NULL CacheHelper::$argSeparator = NULL CacheHelper::$validationErrors = NULL CacheHelper::$tags = array CacheHelper::$__tainted = NULL CacheHelper::$__cleaned = NULL $authentication = AuthenticationHelper AuthenticationHelper::$sessionKey = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$helpers = array AuthenticationHelper::$view = View object AuthenticationHelper::$base = "" AuthenticationHelper::$webroot = "/" AuthenticationHelper::$theme = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" AuthenticationHelper::$params = array AuthenticationHelper::$action = "display" AuthenticationHelper::$plugin = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$data = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$namedArgs = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$argSeparator = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$validationErrors = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$tags = array AuthenticationHelper::$__tainted = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$__cleaned = NULL AuthenticationHelper::$Session = SessionHelper object $javascript = JavascriptHelper JavascriptHelper::$useNative = true JavascriptHelper::$enabled = true JavascriptHelper::$safe = false JavascriptHelper::$tags = array JavascriptHelper::$_blockOptions = array JavascriptHelper::$_cachedEvents = array JavascriptHelper::$_cacheEvents = false JavascriptHelper::$_cacheToFile = false JavascriptHelper::$_cacheAll = false JavascriptHelper::$_rules = array JavascriptHelper::$__scriptBuffer = NULL JavascriptHelper::$helpers = NULL JavascriptHelper::$base = "" JavascriptHelper::$webroot = "/" JavascriptHelper::$theme = NULL JavascriptHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" JavascriptHelper::$params = array JavascriptHelper::$action = "display" JavascriptHelper::$plugin = NULL JavascriptHelper::$data = NULL JavascriptHelper::$namedArgs = NULL JavascriptHelper::$argSeparator = NULL JavascriptHelper::$validationErrors = NULL JavascriptHelper::$__tainted = NULL JavascriptHelper::$__cleaned = NULL $eHtml = eHtmlHelper eHtmlHelper::$helpers = array eHtmlHelper::$viewVars = array eHtmlHelper::$tags = array eHtmlHelper::$_crumbs = array eHtmlHelper::$__includedScripts = array eHtmlHelper::$_scriptBlockOptions = array eHtmlHelper::$__docTypes = array eHtmlHelper::$base = "" eHtmlHelper::$webroot = "/" eHtmlHelper::$theme = NULL eHtmlHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" eHtmlHelper::$params = array eHtmlHelper::$action = "display" eHtmlHelper::$plugin = NULL eHtmlHelper::$data = NULL eHtmlHelper::$namedArgs = NULL eHtmlHelper::$argSeparator = NULL eHtmlHelper::$validationErrors = NULL eHtmlHelper::$__tainted = NULL eHtmlHelper::$__cleaned = NULL eHtmlHelper::$eForm = eFormHelper object eHtmlHelper::$javascript = JavascriptHelper object eHtmlHelper::$Authentication = AuthenticationHelper object $eJavascript = eJavascriptHelper eJavascriptHelper::$helpers = array eJavascriptHelper::$useNative = true eJavascriptHelper::$enabled = true eJavascriptHelper::$safe = false eJavascriptHelper::$tags = array eJavascriptHelper::$_blockOptions = array eJavascriptHelper::$_cachedEvents = array eJavascriptHelper::$_cacheEvents = false eJavascriptHelper::$_cacheToFile = false eJavascriptHelper::$_cacheAll = false eJavascriptHelper::$_rules = array eJavascriptHelper::$__scriptBuffer = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$base = "" eJavascriptHelper::$webroot = "/" eJavascriptHelper::$theme = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" eJavascriptHelper::$params = array eJavascriptHelper::$action = "display" eJavascriptHelper::$plugin = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$data = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$namedArgs = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$argSeparator = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$validationErrors = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$__tainted = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$__cleaned = NULL eJavascriptHelper::$eHtml = eHtmlHelper object $eForm = eFormHelper eFormHelper::$helpers = array eFormHelper::$fieldset = array eFormHelper::$__options = array eFormHelper::$fields = array eFormHelper::$requestType = NULL eFormHelper::$defaultModel = NULL eFormHelper::$_inputDefaults = array eFormHelper::$base = "" eFormHelper::$webroot = "/" eFormHelper::$theme = NULL eFormHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" eFormHelper::$params = array eFormHelper::$action = "display" eFormHelper::$plugin = NULL eFormHelper::$data = NULL eFormHelper::$namedArgs = NULL eFormHelper::$argSeparator = NULL eFormHelper::$validationErrors = NULL eFormHelper::$tags = array eFormHelper::$__tainted = NULL eFormHelper::$__cleaned = NULL eFormHelper::$Html = HtmlHelper object $tagCloud = TagCloudHelper TagCloudHelper::$helpers = array TagCloudHelper::$base = "" TagCloudHelper::$webroot = "/" TagCloudHelper::$theme = NULL TagCloudHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" TagCloudHelper::$params = array TagCloudHelper::$action = "display" TagCloudHelper::$plugin = NULL TagCloudHelper::$data = NULL TagCloudHelper::$namedArgs = NULL TagCloudHelper::$argSeparator = NULL TagCloudHelper::$validationErrors = NULL TagCloudHelper::$tags = array TagCloudHelper::$__tainted = NULL TagCloudHelper::$__cleaned = NULL TagCloudHelper::$Html = HtmlHelper object $html = HtmlHelper HtmlHelper::$tags = array HtmlHelper::$_crumbs = array HtmlHelper::$__includedScripts = array HtmlHelper::$_scriptBlockOptions = array HtmlHelper::$__docTypes = array HtmlHelper::$helpers = NULL HtmlHelper::$base = "" HtmlHelper::$webroot = "/" HtmlHelper::$theme = NULL HtmlHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" HtmlHelper::$params = array HtmlHelper::$action = "display" HtmlHelper::$plugin = NULL HtmlHelper::$data = NULL HtmlHelper::$namedArgs = NULL HtmlHelper::$argSeparator = NULL HtmlHelper::$validationErrors = NULL HtmlHelper::$__tainted = NULL HtmlHelper::$__cleaned = NULL $form = FormHelper FormHelper::$helpers = array FormHelper::$fieldset = array FormHelper::$__options = array FormHelper::$fields = array FormHelper::$requestType = NULL FormHelper::$defaultModel = NULL FormHelper::$_inputDefaults = array FormHelper::$base = "" FormHelper::$webroot = "/" FormHelper::$theme = NULL FormHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" FormHelper::$params = array FormHelper::$action = "display" FormHelper::$plugin = NULL FormHelper::$data = NULL FormHelper::$namedArgs = NULL FormHelper::$argSeparator = NULL FormHelper::$validationErrors = NULL FormHelper::$tags = array FormHelper::$__tainted = NULL FormHelper::$__cleaned = NULL FormHelper::$Html = HtmlHelper object $session = SessionHelper SessionHelper::$helpers = array SessionHelper::$__active = true SessionHelper::$valid = false SessionHelper::$error = false SessionHelper::$_userAgent = "8611eabdb1aa7cc20f419da71363daa3" SessionHelper::$path = "/" SessionHelper::$lastError = NULL SessionHelper::$security = "medium" SessionHelper::$time = 1750391297 SessionHelper::$sessionTime = 1750403297 SessionHelper::$cookieLifeTime = false SessionHelper::$watchKeys = array SessionHelper::$id = NULL SessionHelper::$host = NULL SessionHelper::$timeout = NULL SessionHelper::$base = "" SessionHelper::$webroot = "/" SessionHelper::$here = "/4a95c12a/5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for" SessionHelper::$params = array SessionHelper::$action = "display" SessionHelper::$data = NULL SessionHelper::$theme = NULL SessionHelper::$plugin = NULL $nextstoryurl = "/e47442fb" $publication = array( "Story" => array( "id" => "3431", "publication_id" => "2", "tag_id" => "59", "headline" => "5 common travel scams to look out for", "headline_home" => "5 common travel scams to look out for", "headline_index" => "5 common travel scams to look out for", "meta_keywords" => "", "home_spotlight" => "/probus/files/travel_lifestyle.jpg", "home_spotlight_mini" => "", "home_feature" => "/probus/files/travel_homepage.jpg", "home_tag" => "/probus/files/travel_homepage.jpg", "index_mini" => "/probus/files/travel_index.jpg", "index_result" => "/probus/files/travel_index.jpg", "gallery" => null, "gallery_captions" => null, "gallery_hide" => "0", "embed_spotlight" => "0", "status" => "0", "published" => "2015-09-22 00:00:00", "byline" => "", "tagline" => null, "intro_short" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p>", "intro_long" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p>", "body" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p> <p>Unfortunately, retirees in particular are often most vulnerable when it comes to online scams, as they’re usually less tech-savvy and use the computer regularly as they’re at home more often.</p> <p>Here are some of the most common travel scams to look out for.</p> <p><img src="http://probussouthpacific.org/probus/files/travel_story.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="300" /></p> <h3>1. Rogue taxi drivers</h3> <p>To avoid paying for an inflated fare and being aimlessly driven around the streets before finally arriving at your destination, discuss the fare with your driver beforehand and ensure that he or she has a metre inside the vehicle. You can also check out websites taxifarefinder.com or worldtaximeter.com to get a rough estimate of how much your journey from the airport to your hotel will cost, too. </p> <h3>2. Fake itineraries</h3> <p>Beware of fake e-ticket itineraries containing viruses. Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas have all reported similar schemes in the past. These dodgy itineraries usually take the form of .zip files, although airlines only ever send documents relating to your booking in the form of PDFs that can be downloaded directly. </p> <p>A similar scam involves emails sent to people that say they were charged for an airline ticket, but has malicious software attached instead.</p> <h3>3. Holiday rental scams</h3> <p>If you’ve scored a ridiculously cheap online deal for a rental property, beware. Before you pay a booking fee, do your research. Unfortunately, scammers often compile fake accommodation ads to entice travellers, only to leave you high and dry when you realise you have nowhere to stay the night and you’ve handed over your money to them. </p> <p>If you’d like to live like a local and stay in an apartment while you’re away, book through a reputable website or accredited agency.</p> <h3>4. Dodgy travel agents</h3> <p>If you decide to book your trip through a travel agent, make sure they’re accredited through the Australian Federation of Travel Agents’ ATAS scheme. These agents must abide by a code of conduct and stick to a stringent set of rules when dealing with their customers.</p> <p>Mark O’Brien, director at Trade Travel knows one Probus Club that lost a considerable amount of money when they sent a deposit to their travel agent, who then went into receivership and was never heard from again. </p> <p>“If you’re booking online, make sure the company is accredited to the body, especially if you are dealing with someone overseas. Whoever you deal with online must be accredited under the laws of the country,” Mark advises. “If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.” </p> <h3>5. Beware of travel vouchers</h3> <p>Have you just got news that you’ve won travel vouchers in a competition? Be careful - there are scammers out there who like to entice their victims with vouchers, only to then try signing them up for a holiday deal. It might seem like a heavily discounted deal, but in reality, these deals often don’t exist and you’ll be left out of pocket or stranded overseas with no accommodation. </p> <p>“Watch out - scammers may also claim to be affiliated with well-known and reputable businesses to try and convince you that they’re the real deal. Sometimes the scammers will provide the tickets and itinerary but when it comes time to travel the tickets are useless and the business cannot be contacted,” states the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website. </p> <p>According to the ACCC, it’s important that you deal with a reputable business when it comes to booking your travel online. Find out if you’ve been offered the real deal, call the holiday accommodation directly and research the business that you’re dealing with. </p> <p>If you do think you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately and call the ACCC on 1300 795 995.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>", "newsletter_name" => "", "printed" => null, "created" => "2015-09-18 17:04:25", "modified" => "2015-09-18 17:04:25", "url" => "4a95c12a", "short_id" => "4a95c12a", "url_part_2" => "5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for", "total_views" => "5641", "intro" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p>", "publish_sort_date" => "2015-09-22", "_status" => "Offline" ), "Publication" => array( "id" => "2", "name" => "Probus Web", "folder" => "probus", "url" => "staging.probussouthpacific.org", "microsite_cms_url" => "stagingmicrosite.probussouthpacific.org", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_type_id" => "3", "home_spotlight_count" => "5", "home_spotlight_delay" => "5", "home_feature_count" => "0", "index_spotlight_count" => "3", "search_spotlight_count" => "3", "most_viewed_duration" => "14", "most_tagged_duration" => "14", "list_page_size" => "25", "home_ad1" => "88", "home_ad2" => "89", "home_ad3" => "", "home_ad4" => "", "story_ad1" => "", "story_ad2" => "", "story_ad3" => "", "story_ad4" => "", "button_ad1" => "66", "button_ad2" => "67", "button_ad3" => "", "button_ad4" => "", "button_ad5" => "", "leader_ad" => "", "smtp_port" => "465", "smtp_host" => "smtp.gmail.com", "smtp_username" => "[email protected]", "smtp_password" => "Qwert123$#", "smtp_type" => "ssl", "secure_widget" => "<h3>Quick Links</h3> <p> </p> <p>See <a title="PSPL Mail Outs" href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/pspl_correspondence">PSPL Mail Outs</a> for copies of letters sent by PSPL for the information of all Probus Club members. </p> <p> </p> <p>Club Management Committees can obtain contact details of Probus clubs by visiting this page. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_directory_lookup">Directory of Probus Clubs</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Access a range of material which can assist you with membership development for your club. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_membership_development">Membership Development Tools</a></p> <p> </p> <p>See PSPL’s latest annual report <a title="Click here." href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/about_pspl_annual_report">Click here.</a></p> <p> </p> <p>To access exclusive offers, visit the Probus <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_member_benefits_scheme">Member Benefits Scheme</a> page.</p> <p> </p> <p><span>If you want copies of reports, accounts templates or nomination forms for office bearers, you’ll find them here. </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_forms">Forms and Templates</a></p> <p> </p> <p><span>You'll find all your merchandise needs by visiting the </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/products/display/">Online Shop</a></p>", "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-10-06 15:18:14" ), "Tag" => array( "id" => "59", "tag_type_id" => "3", "publication_id" => "2", "name" => "Travel", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_head_image" => "/probus/files/TravelEditBlue.jpg", "tag_ad1" => "96", "tag_ad2" => "97", "parent_id" => null, "private" => "0", "priority" => null, "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-12-19 14:52:00" ), "Tags" => array( array() ) ) $story_tagline = "" $story = array( "Story" => array( "id" => "3431", "publication_id" => "2", "tag_id" => "59", "headline" => "5 common travel scams to look out for", "headline_home" => "5 common travel scams to look out for", "headline_index" => "5 common travel scams to look out for", "meta_keywords" => "", "home_spotlight" => "/probus/files/travel_lifestyle.jpg", "home_spotlight_mini" => "", "home_feature" => "/probus/files/travel_homepage.jpg", "home_tag" => "/probus/files/travel_homepage.jpg", "index_mini" => "/probus/files/travel_index.jpg", "index_result" => "/probus/files/travel_index.jpg", "gallery" => null, "gallery_captions" => null, "gallery_hide" => "0", "embed_spotlight" => "0", "status" => "0", "published" => "2015-09-22 00:00:00", "byline" => "", "tagline" => null, "intro_short" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p>", "intro_long" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p>", "body" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p> <p>Unfortunately, retirees in particular are often most vulnerable when it comes to online scams, as they’re usually less tech-savvy and use the computer regularly as they’re at home more often.</p> <p>Here are some of the most common travel scams to look out for.</p> <p><img src="http://probussouthpacific.org/probus/files/travel_story.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="300" /></p> <h3>1. Rogue taxi drivers</h3> <p>To avoid paying for an inflated fare and being aimlessly driven around the streets before finally arriving at your destination, discuss the fare with your driver beforehand and ensure that he or she has a metre inside the vehicle. You can also check out websites taxifarefinder.com or worldtaximeter.com to get a rough estimate of how much your journey from the airport to your hotel will cost, too. </p> <h3>2. Fake itineraries</h3> <p>Beware of fake e-ticket itineraries containing viruses. Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas have all reported similar schemes in the past. These dodgy itineraries usually take the form of .zip files, although airlines only ever send documents relating to your booking in the form of PDFs that can be downloaded directly. </p> <p>A similar scam involves emails sent to people that say they were charged for an airline ticket, but has malicious software attached instead.</p> <h3>3. Holiday rental scams</h3> <p>If you’ve scored a ridiculously cheap online deal for a rental property, beware. Before you pay a booking fee, do your research. Unfortunately, scammers often compile fake accommodation ads to entice travellers, only to leave you high and dry when you realise you have nowhere to stay the night and you’ve handed over your money to them. </p> <p>If you’d like to live like a local and stay in an apartment while you’re away, book through a reputable website or accredited agency.</p> <h3>4. Dodgy travel agents</h3> <p>If you decide to book your trip through a travel agent, make sure they’re accredited through the Australian Federation of Travel Agents’ ATAS scheme. These agents must abide by a code of conduct and stick to a stringent set of rules when dealing with their customers.</p> <p>Mark O’Brien, director at Trade Travel knows one Probus Club that lost a considerable amount of money when they sent a deposit to their travel agent, who then went into receivership and was never heard from again. </p> <p>“If you’re booking online, make sure the company is accredited to the body, especially if you are dealing with someone overseas. Whoever you deal with online must be accredited under the laws of the country,” Mark advises. “If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.” </p> <h3>5. Beware of travel vouchers</h3> <p>Have you just got news that you’ve won travel vouchers in a competition? Be careful - there are scammers out there who like to entice their victims with vouchers, only to then try signing them up for a holiday deal. It might seem like a heavily discounted deal, but in reality, these deals often don’t exist and you’ll be left out of pocket or stranded overseas with no accommodation. </p> <p>“Watch out - scammers may also claim to be affiliated with well-known and reputable businesses to try and convince you that they’re the real deal. Sometimes the scammers will provide the tickets and itinerary but when it comes time to travel the tickets are useless and the business cannot be contacted,” states the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website. </p> <p>According to the ACCC, it’s important that you deal with a reputable business when it comes to booking your travel online. Find out if you’ve been offered the real deal, call the holiday accommodation directly and research the business that you’re dealing with. </p> <p>If you do think you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately and call the ACCC on 1300 795 995.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>", "newsletter_name" => "", "printed" => null, "created" => "2015-09-18 17:04:25", "modified" => "2015-09-18 17:04:25", "url" => "4a95c12a", "short_id" => "4a95c12a", "url_part_2" => "5_common_travel_scams_to_look_out_for", "total_views" => "5641", "intro" => "<p>Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer. </p>", "publish_sort_date" => "2015-09-22", "_status" => "Offline" ), "Publication" => array( "id" => "2", "name" => "Probus Web", "folder" => "probus", "url" => "staging.probussouthpacific.org", "microsite_cms_url" => "stagingmicrosite.probussouthpacific.org", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_type_id" => "3", "home_spotlight_count" => "5", "home_spotlight_delay" => "5", "home_feature_count" => "0", "index_spotlight_count" => "3", "search_spotlight_count" => "3", "most_viewed_duration" => "14", "most_tagged_duration" => "14", "list_page_size" => "25", "home_ad1" => "88", "home_ad2" => "89", "home_ad3" => "", "home_ad4" => "", "story_ad1" => "", "story_ad2" => "", "story_ad3" => "", "story_ad4" => "", "button_ad1" => "66", "button_ad2" => "67", "button_ad3" => "", "button_ad4" => "", "button_ad5" => "", "leader_ad" => "", "smtp_port" => "465", "smtp_host" => "smtp.gmail.com", "smtp_username" => "[email protected]", "smtp_password" => "Qwert123$#", "smtp_type" => "ssl", "secure_widget" => "<h3>Quick Links</h3> <p> </p> <p>See <a title="PSPL Mail Outs" href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/pspl_correspondence">PSPL Mail Outs</a> for copies of letters sent by PSPL for the information of all Probus Club members. </p> <p> </p> <p>Club Management Committees can obtain contact details of Probus clubs by visiting this page. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_directory_lookup">Directory of Probus Clubs</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Access a range of material which can assist you with membership development for your club. <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_membership_development">Membership Development Tools</a></p> <p> </p> <p>See PSPL’s latest annual report <a title="Click here." href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/about_pspl_annual_report">Click here.</a></p> <p> </p> <p>To access exclusive offers, visit the Probus <a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_member_benefits_scheme">Member Benefits Scheme</a> page.</p> <p> </p> <p><span>If you want copies of reports, accounts templates or nomination forms for office bearers, you’ll find them here. </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/club_administration_forms">Forms and Templates</a></p> <p> </p> <p><span>You'll find all your merchandise needs by visiting the </span><a href="http://www.probussouthpacific.org/products/display/">Online Shop</a></p>", "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-10-06 15:18:14" ), "Tag" => array( "id" => "59", "tag_type_id" => "3", "publication_id" => "2", "name" => "Travel", "meta_keywords" => "", "meta_description" => "", "tag_head_image" => "/probus/files/TravelEditBlue.jpg", "tag_ad1" => "96", "tag_ad2" => "97", "parent_id" => null, "private" => "0", "priority" => null, "created" => "2012-10-05 22:15:24", "modified" => "2012-12-19 14:52:00" ), "Tags" => array( array() ) ) $related_stories = array( array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ), array( "Story" => array() ) )include - APP/views/stories/probus-display.ctp, line 49 View::_render() - CORE/cake/libs/view/view.php, line 731 View::render() - CORE/cake/libs/view/view.php, line 426 Controller::render() - CORE/cake/libs/controller/controller.php, line 909 AppController::render() - APP/app_controller.php, line 64 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/cake/dispatcher.php, line 207 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/cake/dispatcher.php, line 171 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 83
No stories were found.
5 common travel scams to look out for
22 Sep 2015
Holidays are the perfect time to kick back, relax and enjoy yourself, so the last thing you want is for your trip to be ruined by a dodgy scammer.
Unfortunately, retirees in particular are often most vulnerable when it comes to online scams, as they’re usually less tech-savvy and use the computer regularly as they’re at home more often.
Here are some of the most common travel scams to look out for.
1. Rogue taxi drivers
To avoid paying for an inflated fare and being aimlessly driven around the streets before finally arriving at your destination, discuss the fare with your driver beforehand and ensure that he or she has a metre inside the vehicle. You can also check out websites taxifarefinder.com or worldtaximeter.com to get a rough estimate of how much your journey from the airport to your hotel will cost, too.
2. Fake itineraries
Beware of fake e-ticket itineraries containing viruses. Jetstar, Virgin and Qantas have all reported similar schemes in the past. These dodgy itineraries usually take the form of .zip files, although airlines only ever send documents relating to your booking in the form of PDFs that can be downloaded directly.
A similar scam involves emails sent to people that say they were charged for an airline ticket, but has malicious software attached instead.
3. Holiday rental scams
If you’ve scored a ridiculously cheap online deal for a rental property, beware. Before you pay a booking fee, do your research. Unfortunately, scammers often compile fake accommodation ads to entice travellers, only to leave you high and dry when you realise you have nowhere to stay the night and you’ve handed over your money to them.
If you’d like to live like a local and stay in an apartment while you’re away, book through a reputable website or accredited agency.
4. Dodgy travel agents
If you decide to book your trip through a travel agent, make sure they’re accredited through the Australian Federation of Travel Agents’ ATAS scheme. These agents must abide by a code of conduct and stick to a stringent set of rules when dealing with their customers.
Mark O’Brien, director at Trade Travel knows one Probus Club that lost a considerable amount of money when they sent a deposit to their travel agent, who then went into receivership and was never heard from again.
“If you’re booking online, make sure the company is accredited to the body, especially if you are dealing with someone overseas. Whoever you deal with online must be accredited under the laws of the country,” Mark advises. “If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.”
5. Beware of travel vouchers
Have you just got news that you’ve won travel vouchers in a competition? Be careful - there are scammers out there who like to entice their victims with vouchers, only to then try signing them up for a holiday deal. It might seem like a heavily discounted deal, but in reality, these deals often don’t exist and you’ll be left out of pocket or stranded overseas with no accommodation.
“Watch out - scammers may also claim to be affiliated with well-known and reputable businesses to try and convince you that they’re the real deal. Sometimes the scammers will provide the tickets and itinerary but when it comes time to travel the tickets are useless and the business cannot be contacted,” states the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.
According to the ACCC, it’s important that you deal with a reputable business when it comes to booking your travel online. Find out if you’ve been offered the real deal, call the holiday accommodation directly and research the business that you’re dealing with.
If you do think you’ve been the victim of a scam, report it. Contact your bank or financial institution immediately and call the ACCC on 1300 795 995.
®