Above / Spring break for Naperville schools runs March 31 through April 4, 2025. If planning to travel that week, local families likely already have made reservations. If still planning a getaway, consider some sage advice from the Better Business Bureau, precautions that make sense any time travel is planned. (PN File Image)
As spring break 2025 approaches, travel experts are predicting a significant increase in spending on premium vacations by families and college students. This year, travelers are more eager than ever to embark on bucket list trips, adventure travel, and international destinations.
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is issuing a strong reminder to consumers: this heightened interest in premium vacations presents a prime opportunity for scammers. Fraudulent vacation rentals, third-party booking sites and travel agencies are on the rise, targeting those seeking great vacation deals.
“Given the increased expense of these vacations, ‘caution’ is the key word,” noted Naperville resident Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO in a news release. “Consumers who do not do their due diligence when making their spring break travel plans and finalizing payments can end up falling directly into the hands of con artists.”
Following the trends, scammers often take advantage of consumer habits, observe internet searches, and then entice consumers with great deals on popular destinations or all-inclusive packages. While these frauds happen year-round, now is peak time.
“This year, 159 Travel, Vacation and Timeshare-related scam reports have been filed in BBB Scamtracker, costing consumers nearly $55,000,” Bernas stated.
The Federal Trade Commission reports nationwide that in 2023, there were 55,000 reports of travel scams, and travelers lost more than $122 million.
Plan ahead to protect and secure a good getaway
To protect yourself, Bernas adds, “It all begins with planning, so you are not rushing to make last-minute arrangements. When you are in a hurry and may not have the time to verify you are booking with a legitimate location or business, that puts the scammer in the driver’s seat. Always verify and be sure to check for customer complaints or reviews on BBB.org.”
Look out for five most reported travel scams
- Vacation rental con / These con artists lure in vacationers with the promise of low fees and great amenities. The “owner” creates a false sense of urgency – such as telling potential clients that another vacationer is interested in the rental – to get payment upfront before doing sufficient research or questioning the legitimacy of the ad.
- “Free” vacation scams / When a cruise or travel company advertises a vacation as “free,” it does not necessarily mean the trip is without cost or restrictions. Watch out for add-on fees for air transportation, port charges, taxes, tips and other undisclosed fees.
- Hotel scams / When staying in a hotel, beware of scammers who use various techniques to obtain credit card information, including fake front desk calls, “free” wi-fi connections and fake food delivery.
- Third-party booking site scams / If you book your airfare, hotel, or other travel through a third-party website, be sure to use caution. BBB Scam Tracker continues to receive reports of scammers pretending to be online airline ticket brokers. In the most common version of the scam, travelers pay with a credit card and, shortly after making the payment, receive a call from the company asking to verify name, address, banking information or other personal details – something a legitimate company would never do.
- Timeshare reselling cons / A timeshare owner looking to sell gets a call from someone claiming to be a real estate broker or agent. These scammers claim to specialize in timeshare resales and promise they have buyers ready to purchase. To secure this service, the scammer pressures the target into paying an upfront fee. The timeshare owner pays up, but the reselling agent never delivers.
Follow BBB recommendations to avoid travel scams
- Get trip details in writing. / Before making a final payment, get all the trip details in writing. Details should include the total cost, restrictions, cancellation penalties, and names of the airlines and hotels. Also, review and keep a copy of the airline and hotel cancellation and refund policies as well as the travel agency or booking site cancellation policies.
- “Too good to be true” deals. / As is common in various scams, if the deal or discount seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often use this tactic to lure in potential victims and use aggressive “limited time” language to entice travelers to pay before researching the business.
- Avoid wiring money or using a prepaid debit card. / These payments are the same as sending cash. Once the money is sent, there is no way to get it back. Paying with a credit card offers greater protection and dramatically limits liability from a fraudulent purchase.
- Call the rental owner. / If you are not using a service that verifies properties and owners, do not negotiate a rental solely by email. Many scammers do not live locally. Speaking with the owner on the phone and asking detailed questions about the property and local attractions will clarify whether the listing is genuine. An owner with vague answers is a clear red flag.
- Unsolicited offers. / Be particularly cautious if you “win” a free trip without entering a contest or sweepstakes. This is especially true if the offer is time-sensitive and requires the consumer to accept and pay for the offer immediately or risk it going to another “winner.” Check the official website of the company the offer is originating from to verify that it is legitimate.
Find more tips to avoid travel scams online
For more tips on how to avoid travel scams, visit BBB.org/Travel.
If you or someone you know has encountered a travel scam, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. The information provided could help other people avoid it.
Look for the BBB seal, The Sign of a Better Business.
Better Business Bureau of Chicago
BBB of Chicago and Northern Illinois is a nonprofit organization that has served consumers and trustworthy businesses for 98 years and is a part of the IABBB. We connect customers to businesses they can trust.
The International Association of Better Business Bureaus (IABBB) is the network hub for BBBs in the U.S. and parts of Canada.
Submitted by the Better Business Bureau.
More awareness…
Editor’s Note #1 / The Naperville Police Department is hosting a scam awareness webinar at noon on Wed., Feb. 26, to educate citizens about the latest scams being used to defraud Naperville residents and how to protect themselves. The webinar is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. The link to the webinar is available at www.naperville.il.us/ScamAwareness or by clicking here. Residents who do not have the Zoom application downloaded on their device will be able to view the webinar using their internet browser by clicking the “Join from your browser” option. A recording of the webinar will be available on the City’s website after-the-fact for individuals who are not able to attend but are interested in learning more about this critical topic.
Editor’s Note #2 / Spring Break also can be experienced right here in Naperville, Illinois. Folks tell us they enjoy planning “staycations” here. For a listing of hotels and events, check out Visit Naperville. For an epicurious adventure to please every appetite, check out Dine Naperville. —PN
