Fraud Alerts/PSAs

A travel agent offers plane tickets at a great discount, their client receives a confirmation but weeks later the hopeful traveler realizes it’s a con. 

In the Travel Agent Scam, a thief with a stolen credit card claims to be a travel agent offering deep discounts on airfare. The so-called agent agrees to visit the customer at their work or home and purchases the ticket on the airline website in view of the customer.

The victim is shown the listed price and offered a significant discount. The fake travel agent purchases the ticket and the customer pays in cash and receives a real ticket confirmation code.

A few weeks later, the airline declines the ticket because it has been reported as a fraudulent charge on the stolen credit card.

TIPS:

• Purchase tickets directly from the airline or through a legitimate travel agent or travel website
• Be wary of discounts and last-minute deals offered by individuals and not the airlines
• Compare prices. If the deal offered by the “travel agent” is significantly less than what is offered elsewhere, it is likely a scam

Check out this video where Deputy District Attorney William Pfaff of the Cyber Crime Division explains the scam and how to avoid it.

Report fraud to the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222 or http://dcba.lacounty.gov.

Follow @LADAOffice on Twitter and Instagram for up-to-date news and use #FraudFriday.