7 Tips to Travel Safely – Don’t Let Scammer Run Your Trip

(3 Minute Read) — Everyone loves tips to help them travel safely. Whether it’s a weekend road trip to the coast or a dream vacation abroad, scammers are waiting to hijack your plans—and your money. At Unitus Community Credit Union, we want you to travel with confidence. Here’s how to spot common travel scams and keep your money, and your peace of mind, secure. 

1. Book Through Reputable Sources 

• Stick with well-known sites and providers. This first tip to help you travel safely is an important one. Use established travel agencies, major online booking platforms, or hotel chains you’ve heard of. 

• Verify contact info. If you’re booking by phone or email, call the company’s official customer‑service number—never the one in a suspicious offer. 

2. Research Before You Pay 

• Search for reviews + “scam” or “complaint.” A quick online search of a company’s name plus “scam” can surface red flags before you hand over your credit card. The FTC has some additional tips. 

• Watch out for deals that sound too good to be true. Extremely low prices or last‑minute “steals” often signal a fake operator. 

3. Protect Your Payment Information 

• Use credit cards, not wire transfers or gift cards. Wire services (like Western Union) and gift‑card payments are favorites of scammers because they’re nearly impossible to reverse. Here’s what you should know before you wire money. 

4. Be Wary of Unsolicited Offers 

• Uninvited calls or emails promising vacation deals? If you didn’t expressly request information, treat it as suspect. 

• Never click links or download attachments from unsolicited travel‑deal messages. 

5. Understand the Fine Print 

• Read cancellation and refund policies carefully. Know if and how you can cancel a booking, and whether your payment is refundable. 

• Ask about any extra fees. Resort fees, cleaning fees, or service charges can add up—make sure you see the total cost before you commit. 

6. Guard Your Personal Data 

• Don’t overshare on booking forms. You usually need only name, address, payment info—and that’s it. 

• Watch out for phishing. Scammers may mimic a legitimate booking site to harvest your login or card details. 

7. Know How to Report a Scam 

• Contact us immediately if you suspect fraud. Unitus can help you dispute unauthorized charges. Here’s how to report fraud. 

• File a report with the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov to help authorities track and stop scammers.  

How Unitus Supports Your Safe Travels 

At Unitus, we’re more than just a place to store your money—we’re your partner in financial security: 

• Fraud monitoring & alerts: We watch for suspicious card activity 24/7. 

• Secure payment options: Be sure to use a Unitus credit card when booking a trip in case you need to dispute a charge. 

• Dedicated support: Our Member Support team is here to help if something goes wrong on your trip. 

Ready for a Scam‑Free Vacation? 

Before you hit the road (or the airport), take a moment to review these tips—and reach out to Unitus if you have any questions about securing your payments or protecting your identity. 

Contact us today at 1-800-452-0900 or stop by your nearest branch to learn more about our fraud‑prevention tools and safe travel protections. 

Bon voyage—and travel smart!